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Fairfield  Centennial  Commemoration 


1779-1879. 


Historical  Discourse, 


POEM, 


ADDRESSES  AND  CORRESPONDENCE. 


A- 


1 779- 1 879. 


CENTENNIAL    COMMEMORATION 


BURNING  OF  FAIRFIELD, 


CONNECTICUT, 


BRITISH  TROOPS  UNDER  GOVERNOR  TRYON, 


JULY  8th,   1779. 


NEW  YORK : 

A.  S.  BARNES  &  CO.,  PUBLISHERS  AND   BOOKSELLERS, 

III  AND  113  William  Street. 

18  79. 


OFFICERS 


Rev.  SAMUEL  OSGOOD,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
SAMUEL  MOREHOUSE, 
WM.  A.  BEERS, 


President. 
Treasurer. 
Secretary. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS 


FREDERICK  BRONSON, 
MORRIS  W.  LYON. 
HENRY  J.  BEERS. 
SAMUEL  GLOVER. 
HENRY  W.  CURTISS. 
A.  W.  SANFORD. 
EDMUND  HOBART 
ISAAC  JENNINGS. 
BURR  BARTRAM. 
JAMES  A.  COLE. 
GEORGE  A.  PHELPS. 
Hon.  p.  T.  BARNUM. 
Hon.  S.  p.  BEARDSLEY. 
PASCHAL  SHEFFIELD. 
FRANCIS  D.  PERRY. 
JULIUS  PIKE. 
STEPHEN  MOREHOUSE. 
EPHRAIM  H.  BURR, 
MOSES  G.  BETTS. 
CHAS.  B.  WAKELEY. 
J.  M.  xMOREKOUSE. 
LEWIS  BURR. 
ALANSON  ALLEN. 
ZALMON  B.  BRADLEY. 
HENRY  BRADLEY. 
ANSON  BIBBINS. 


FREDERICK  STURGES. 
O.  W.  JONES. 
HENRY  ROWLAND. 
THEODORE  SALTUS. 
Rev.  p.  S.  McCABE. 
H.  W.  POPE. 
CHARLES  CARTER. 
DAVID  TRUBEE. 
D.  M.  REDFIELD. 
HENRY  L.  MILLS. 
JAMES  R  SMITH. 
FREDERICK  MARQUAND. 
EDWIN  SHERWOOD. 
JONATHAN  GODFREY. 
GEORGE  BULKLEY. 
ANDREW  P.  WAKEMAN. 
BURR  OSBORN. 
DAVID  BEERS. 
ALBERT  TURNEY. 
WILLIAM  BURR. 
J.  G.  MOREHOUSE. 
BENJ.  PENFIELD. 
C.  H.  FRENCH. 
OLIVER  BURR. 
T.  M.  BANKS. 
CHAS.  ROCKWELL. 


JULIAN  W.  CURTISS. 
HARRY  MILLS. 
HERBERT  KNAPP. 
H.  N.  KNAPP. 


MARSHALS: 


WM.  B.  GLOVER. 
WALTER  JENNINGS. 
EDWARD  TAFT. 
HENRY  J.  BEERS,  Jr. 


COMMITTEES, 

EXECUTIVE: 

O.  B.  JENNINGS.  FREDERICK  BRONSON.  FRANCIS  BULKLEY 

SAMUEL  MOREHOUSE.  AUGUSTUS  JENNINGS.  JOHN  H.  GLOVER. 

HENRY  C.  STURGES.  CHAS.  H.  PHELPS.  DAVID  TRUBEE. 

SAMUEL  ROWLAND,  BARLOW  HILL.  MORRIS  W.  LYON. 


FINANCE: 


SAMUEL  MOREHOUSE.        BARLOW  HILL.  SAMUEL  OSGOOD. 

AUGUSTUS  JENNINGS. 


MUSIC-dNSTRUMENTAL :) 


WM.  A.  BEERS. 


DAVID  TRUBEE. 


MUSIC-{VOCAL:) 

JOHN  H.  WOOD.  ANDREW  WAKEMAN 


DECORATION: 


HENRY  C.  STURGES.  FREDERICK  BRONSON.      CHARLES  H.  PHELPS. 


ENTERTAINMENT 


O.  B.  JENNINGS. 
ISAAC  JENNINGS. 


FRANCIS  BULKLEY. 
DAVID  TRUBEE. 


M.  W.  LYON. 
C.  H.  PHELPS. 


COMMITTEES: 


PLATFORM,  SEATS   AND   TABLES. 


O.  B.  JENNINGS. 
ISAAC  JENNINGS. 


SAMUEL  MOREHOUSE. 
AUGUSTUS  JENNINGS. 


SAMUEL   ROWLAND 


JAMES    S.  COLE. 


CARRIAGES. 


SAMUEL  ROWLAND. 


PRINTING,  ADVERTISING   AND    INVITATIONS. 

WM.  A.  BEERS,  (Ex-officio.) 


SAMUEL  OSGOOD. 
JAMES  K.  LOMBARD. 


PUBLICATION 


SAMUEL  MOREHOUSE. 
WILLIAM  A.  BEERS. 


LADIES   COMMITTEE: 


Mrs.  HUNTINGTON, 


Mrs.  H.  T.  CURTISS. 
Mrs.  CHAS.  PHELPS. 
Mrs.  FRED'K  BRONSON. 
Mrs.  S.  MOREHOUSE. 
Mrs.  SAM'L  GLOVER. 
Miss  SUSAN  HOBART. 
Miss  DORA  BULKLEY. 


Mrs.  a.  V.  S.  SCHENCK. 
Mrs.  GEORGE  BULKLEY. 
Mrs.  THEO.  TURNEY. 
Mrs.  T.  BROOKE. 
Mrs.  BURR  PERRY. 
Miss  ABBY  NICHOLLS. 
Miss  HANNAH  HOBART. 
Miss  R.  ROWLAND. 


President. 

Mrs.  SAM'L  OSGOOD 
Mrs.  W.  a.  BEERS. 
Mrs.  J.  K.  LOMBARD 
Mrs.  A.  B.  JENNINGS. 
Mrs.  R.  A.  CURTISS. 
Mrs.  HENRY  L.  MILLS. 
Mrs.  BENJ.  BETTS. 


INTRODUCTION 


The  mind  of  our  time  is  becoming  decidedly  his- 
torical, and  the  idea  is  gaining  ground  that  in  the' 
study  of  man,  as  of  nature,  the  knowledge  of  facts 
is  the  best  way  to  ascertain  principles  and  to  order 
conduct.  We  Americans  are  entering  generously 
into  this  movement.  With  us,  in  our  literary  career, 
history  has  come  in  advance  of  poetry,  and,  of  late, 
the  whole  nation  has  formed  itself  into  a  history 
class,  and  for  three  years  our  people  have  been  read- 
ing together  their  Centennial  records,  and  are  to  keep 
it  up  for  four  years  to  come,  until  the  festival  of 
peace  in  1883.  As  a  nation  we  celebrated  the  great 
Centennial  of  1876,  and  each  town  has  been  earnest 
to  add  its  own  testimony  to  whatever  has  been  im- 
portant in  its  own  annals.  The  people  of  the  old 
Town  of  Fairfield  joined  with  the  whole  country  in 
that  jubilee,  and  in  due  time,  Fairfield  makes  this 
unpretending  offering  of  its  own  local  record  to  the 
common  treasury  of  patriotism. 

We  know  very  well  that  our  most  conspicuous  date 
is  not  of  a  jubilant  character,  and  that  it  notes  not  a 
victory,  but  a  disaster.  We  therefore  called  the  occa- 
sion not  a  celebration  but  a  commemoration,  and  we 
determined  to  have  a  quiet,  thoughtful,  neighborly, 
and  patriotic  reunion,  without  noise  and  revelry,  with 
due  remembrance,  in  prose  and  poetry,  of  the  great 


8 

calamity  of  a  hundred  years  ago,  with  wholesome 
lessons  from  able  speakers  upon  the  duties  and  hopes 
of  good  citizens,  with  sufficient  hospitality  to  refresh 
and  cheer  our  guests  in  the  mid-day  interval,  and  with 
patriotic  and  devout  music  to  stir  and  uplift  the  assem- 
bly. We  mean  to  be  wholly  honest  with  ourselves 
and  our  friends,  and  to  let  the  occasion  speak  for 
itself  without  any  sham,  clap-trap  or  pretension. 
The  task  of  preparation  was  divided  between  effi- 
cient committees,  and  its  own  duty  was  assigned  to 
each  proper  quarter.  The  result  more  than  gratified 
our  anticipations.  The  commemoration  appears  to 
have  been  pleasing,  impressive,  instructive  and  whole- 
some, without  a  single  incident  to  mar  its  harmony, 
without  the  least  sign  of  disorder,  with  the  hearty 
concurrence  of  all  classes  of  our  residents,  and  a 
large  attendance  of  visitors,  and  with  a  certain  ear- 
nest attention  and  genial  fellowship,  that  did  honor 
alike  to  hosts  and  guests,  and  will  be  gratefully  asso- 
ciated with  the  future  of  the  town  and  neighborhood. 
It  is  due  to  the  principal  speakers,  especially  to  the 
author  of  the  historical  address,  to  have  it  understood 
that  Fairfield  has  other  records  than  those  of  disaster 
and  that  since  the  destruction  of  its  chief  buildings, 
its  residents  have  not  only  been  able  to  restore  its 
beauty,  but  in  conspicuous  cases,  as  the  published 
addresses  testify,  they  have  written  their  names  upon 
the  culture  and  history  of  the  nation.  It  is  perhaps 
well  enouofh  known  what  eminence  the  Fairfield 
clergy  have  won,  but  the  records  of  the  bench  and 


bar  have  been  far  less  known.  It  is  interesting  to  read 
in  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beardsley's  Life  and  Times  of  Wil- 
liam Samuel  Johnson,  that  on  the  9th  of  January, 
18 1 2,  while  the  Supreme  Court  was  sitting-  in  Fair- 
field, Dr.  Johnson  walked  in  and  took  a  seat  at  the 
bar.  "  The  presence  "  says  a  cotemporary,  "of  this 
venerable  and  celebrated  counsellor,  who  has  often 
been  styled  the  father  of  the  bar  in  Connecticut, 
and  who  has  probably  not  appeared  in  a  court  of 
justice  for  twenty-seven  years,  attracted  the  attention 
of  all  who  were  present."  Shortly  after  the  adjourn- 
ment, the  legal  men  who  were  there  appointed  a 
committee  to  express  their  respect  for  him  in  his 
private  and  his  public  character,  and  Dr.  Johnson 
made  a  handsome  reply.  The  names  of  Samuel  B. 
Sherwood,  Roger  M.  Sherman,  Matthew  B.  Whittle- 
sey and  James  Gould  appear  on  this  Committee,  and 
show  how  strong  a  hold  Fairfield  had  upon  the  legal 
mind  of  that  day. 

The  Decoration  Committee  carried  out  their  pur- 
pose of  cheering  and  enlarging  the  fellowship  of  the 
occasion  by  displaying  the  fiags  of  the  great  nations 
of  the  world,  especially  remembering  France,  our 
ally  of  old,  and  England,  once  our  enemy,  but  now 
our  friend,  and  as  such  invited  to  our  assembly,  alike 
by  our  note  to  her  Minister  and  by  placing  her  flag 
near  our  own,  an  act  which  mingled  courtesy  to  the 
mother  country,  with  a  quiet  and  dignified  intimation 
that  America,  once  so  feeble,  is  now  great  enough  to 
honor  the  great  of  the  earth  by  her  hospitable  regard. 


lO 

The  Committee  of  Publication  send  this  record  of 
the  commemoration  forth  to  the  people  of  Fairfield, 
in  the  hope  that  it  is  but  the  beginning  of  the  good 
work  of  town  enterprise  and  public  spirit.  Perhaps 
in  1889,  when  this  town  will  have  completed  its 
quarter  of  a  thousand  years,  and  the  nation  will  hold 
the  Centennial  of  its  established  Constitution  and 
the  inauguration  of  Washington,  its  first  President, 
the  commemoration  may  be  remembered  in  a  more 
grand  and  festive  celebration.  Perhaps  after  a  cen- 
tury, in  1979,  copies  of  this  pamphlet  will  be  read  by 
Fairfield  people,  who  can  recall  what  their  grand- 
fathers said  to  them  about  the  day,  July  8th,  1879, 
that  we  now  commemorate. 

Samuel  Osgood, 
James  K.  Lombard, 
Samuel  Morehouse, 
William  A.  Beers, 

Com^nittee  of  Publication. 


ORDER  OF  EXERCISES. 


I.     MORNING. 


Reception  of  the  Governor  and  Staff  at  the  Depot. 

^SSEMBLY   ON   THE    GrEEN,    1  1    O'CLOCK  fs..    M.. 

Prayer. 

During  which  the  Old  Flag  of  thirteen  stars  will  be  at  half-mast,  in  token  of 
sympathy  with  our  ancestors. 

Singing  of    Commemoration   Hymn. 

Raising  of  the  Old  Flag,  and  display  of  the  colors  of  England  and  America, 
in  token  of  reconciliation  and  good  will. 

National  Airs  of   both  Countries, 

By  the  Band. 
Historical  Address,  .         .         By  Rev.  E.  E.  Rankin,  D.  D. 

Singing, By  United  Choirs. 

Original  Poem,         ....       Rev.  James  K.  Lombard. 

II.    NOON. 

Intermission. 

During  which  there  will  be  a  Concert  by  Band  and  Luncheon  on  the  Green. 

III.    AFTERNOON. 

Singing,       ....        Whittier's  Centennial  Hymn. 
Address,  .         .       By  Rev.  Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D.,  L.L.  D. 

Singing, By  The  United  Choirs. 

Music, By  the  Band. 

Addresses, By  Guests. 

Music, By  the  Band. 

Escorting  the  Governor  to  the  Depot. 


I-MORNING. 


The  President,  immediately  upon  the  arrival  of  the 
procession  with  the  Governor  and  the  escort  at  the 
Green,  called  the  assembly  to  order  in  these  words  : 

"We  meet,  fellow  citizens  and  friends,  here  to-day 
under  a  cloudy  and  not  wholly  promising  sky,  and 
our  pleasant  town  is  threatened  by  water,  as  she  was 
threatened  a  century  ago  by  fire.  But  now,  as  always, 
our  New  England  pluck  is  equal  to  the  hour. 
Whether  wet  or  dry,  we  are  here  in  the  spirit  of  our 
stout  old  fathers  and  mothers,  and  the  Yankee  heart 
knows  not  only  how  to  rise,  like  the  Phenix,  from  its 
ashes,  but  like  the  dove  from  the  deluge.  It  looks 
as  if  we  might  be  compelled  to  hold  our  exercises  in 
the  church,  the  old  Church  of  the  Prime  Ancient 
Parish,  of  which  the  orator  is  pastor.  In  that  case, 
and  in  any  event,  it  is  well  for  us,  here,  in  presence 
of  our  Chief  Magistrate  and  under  God's  heaven,  to 
make  our  position  sure  by  saluting  the  good  old  flag 
of  the  Union,  with  loyal  hearts  and  to  the  music  of 
the  Star  Spangled  Banner." 

After  the  band  had  played  that  National  air,  the 
President  announced  that  the  sky  promised  better 
weather,  and  that  the  assembly  would  continue  to 
keep  their  places  in  the  open  air.  "  First  of  all,  we 
give  glory  to  our  God  and   the   God  of  our   fathers. 


14 


and  ask  His  blessing  upon  ourselves  and  our  children.' 
The  Rev.  B.  G.  Relyea,  of  Green's  Farm,  formerly  the 
West  Parish  of  Fairfield,  offered  the  prayer  of  com 
memoration,  and  the  order  of  the  day  was  carried  out. 


COMMEMORATION    HYMN. 
fairfield,    conn., 

1779.  July,  8th,  1879. 

"  Thou  shall  bless  the   Lord,  thy  God,    for   the  good  land,    which   He  hath 
■given  thee." — Deut.  8-io. 

Father,  whose  tender  care, 
All  we,  Thy  children,  share. 

Bless  Thou  our  town. 
Teach  us  to  walk  aright, 
Fill  our  souls  with  Thy  light, 
And  aid  us  by  Thy  might, 
^  Wrong  to  tread  down. 

Ever  Thy  mercies  reign, 
Ever  through  joy  and  pain 

Feel  we  Thy  hand, 
That  led  through  flame  and  strife, 
Through  years  with  anguish  rife, 
Up  from  death  into  life 

Our  noble  land. 

Breathe  forth  Thy  blessing,  Lord  ! 
Fix  in  each  heart  Thy  word. 

Truth  undefiled. 
O'er  the  joined  flags  above 
May  Thine  own  Spirit  move 
Binding  with  lasting  love 

Mother  and  child. 

Tune — Italian  Hymn. 


HISTORICAL   ADDRESS, 

by  Rev.  Edward  E.  Rankin,  D.  D. 

In  the  summer  of  1637,  the  coming  of  English 
soldiers  into  this  region  became  the  occasion  for 
founding  this  town  in  the  wilderness.  A  hundred 
and  forty-two  years  later,  and  just  a  century  ago, 
another  army  under  the  same  flag  made  it  to  pass 
through  the  ordeal  of  fire. 

In  commemorating  the  latter  event  we  are  remind- 
ed of  the  former  and  it  is  fitting  to  give  some  attention 
to  the  years  in  which  Fairfield  was  forming  its  charac- 
ter and  history  before  its  conflagration. 

The  savage  Pequot  tribe  had  filled  the  hearts  of 
many  in  the  colonies  with  dismay  and  dread.  In  the 
hostile  measures  pursued  for  its  destruction  some  of 
the  chief  magistrates  of  Connecticut  were  commission- 
ed to  accompany  the  troops  sent  out  to  conquer  the 
subtle  foe.  Their  counsel  it  was  thought  would  assist 
in  directing  the  valor  of  the  soldiers  and  bring  the 
protracted  conflict  to  a  close. 

Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  when  Capt.  Mason  push- 
ed his  way  to  this  hitherto  unexplored  portion  of  the 
colony,  Roger  Ludlow,  its  deputy  Governor,  who  had 
held  the  same  oflice  in  Massachusetts  and  was  now 
living  in  Windsor  accompanied  the  troops. 

The  battle,  fought  two  miles  from  the  place  we  now 
occupy,  brought  an  end  to  the  merciless  war. 


i6 

After  silence  had  settled  over  Sasco  Swamp,  amid 
whose  taneled  thickets  most  of  the  Indian  warriors  had 
been  slain,  the  opportunity  was  used  to  explore  the 
country  near  to  the  scene  of  battle.  This  result- 
ed in  the  return  of  Mr.  Ludlow  with  eight  or  ten 
families  from  Windsor,  to  make  here  their  permanent 
abode. 

They  were  soon  joined  by  others  from  Watertown 
and  Concord  in  Massachusetts,  and  thus  within  a  few 
years  the  Indian  settlement  of  Un-quo-wa  became  the 
English  town  of  Fairfield. 

A  purchase  of  the  territory  l3'ing  north  of  the  sound 
and  reaching  seven  miles  along  the  coast  was  fairly 
made  by  Ludlow.  Some  remaining  claim  of  the 
friendly  tribe  of  natives,  who  w^ere  in  no  way  connect- 
ed with  the  hostile  Pequots,  was  in  1670  extinguished 
in  a  bargain  made  by  the  town  through  the  agency  of 
one  of  its  people,  Mr.  Jehu  Burr. 

The  town  records,  although  by  no  means  complete, 
run  through  many  years,  during  v/hich  the  civil  autho- 
rity controlled  ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  all  the  town 
meetings  were  held  in  the  house  where  Divine  service 
was  performed.  From  the  measures  taken  at  these 
meetings  we  can  form  some  idea  of  the  difficulties  by 
which  these  early  inhabitants  were  surrounded.  They 
offered  a  bounty  of  twenty  shillings  for  every  wolf 
killed  in  the  town  and  one  shilling  for  every  fox. 
They  passed  stringent  laws  to  punish  vagrancy,  they 
voted  upon  the  acceptability  of  every  applicant  for 
residence  within  their  precincts.     Some  they  refused 


17 

to  receive,  some  who  were  already  here  and  guilty  of 
misconduct  they  ordered  to  depart.  The  magistrate, 
minister  and  teacher  were  compensated  for  their 
services  by  the  grant  or  sale  of  common  lands  and  a 
new  distribution  of  these  public  lands  was  made  from 
time  to  time  in  proportion  to  the  possession  already 
obtained  and  the  number  of  children  in  the  house- 
hold. The  calls  for  untiring  diligence  were  constant 
and  pressing.  Those  long  and  narrow  lots  reaching 
back  for  miles  must  needs  be  brought  under  cultivation 
by  clearing,  stubbing,  ditching  and  fencing  before  they 
could  be  used  for  meadow,  pasture  or  arable  land. 
There  were  roads  to  lay  out,  bridges  to  build,  water 
courses  to  be  turned  into  the  mill  dam,  barns,  dwell- 
ings, school  houses  and  churches  to  be  erected  and 
much  needful  furniture  to  be  made.  Shingles  had  to 
be  planed  and  nails  wrought  by  handiwork.  All  this 
and  much  more  of  similar  labor  called  for  the  exertion 
both  of  brain  and  muscle  in  those  primitive  days  of 
Fairfield's  industry  and  thrift.  Nor  were  the  women 
idle.  The  flocks,  largely  depended  on  for  family  sup- 
plies came  under  their  care.  From  the  clipping  of 
the  wool  to  its  transfer  as  a  finished  garment  upon 
the  persons  of  their  husbands,  their  children  or  them- 
selves, womens'  fingers  were  kept  busy,  while  in  the 
washing,  carding,  spinning,  weaving,  dyeing,  cutting 
and  the  sewing,  dames  and  damsels  of  those  days  be- 
came adepts.  The  lard  and  candles,  the  soap  and  sul- 
phur matches,  the  butter,  cheese  and  bread  all  were 
home  made.    Have  I  not  said  enough  to  show  you  that 


both  on  the  farm  and  within  the  dwelling  there  were 
all  the  elements  needful  for  self  reliance  and  strength  ? 
In  the  absence  of  a  piano,  the  music  of  the  loom  and 
spinning  wheel  doubtless  lulled  many  a  Fairfield  baby 
to  sleep.  From  these  beginnings  of  agriculture  and 
in  the  foundation  arts  of  the  mason,  carpenter,  smith 
and  miller,  the  town  made  onward  progress  until  it 
became  a  port  of  entry  for  foreign  goods,  while  the 
destruction  of  no  less  than  forty-eight  shops  and 
stores  in  1779  makes  clear  the  increase  of  its  com- 
merce and  manufacturers. 

During  all  these  early  years  there  was  peace  within 
its  borders,  only  once  interrupted  by  an  early  speck 
of  threatened  war.  In  1653  our  neighbors  of  the 
Manhadoes  were  suspected  of  efforts  to  incite  the 
Indians  to  massacre  the  white  inhabitants  of  these 
New  England  settlements.  The  authorities  of  the 
colonies  at  first  appeared  to  favor  the  suggestion  of 
a  war  against  the  Dutch,  but  soon  wisely  abandoned 
the  project.  This  change  of  policy  did  not  suit  the 
views  of  our  chief  townsman,  Mr.  Ludlow.  He  urg- 
ed the  people  of  Fairfield  and  some  dwelling  in  Stam- 
ford, to  prepare  for  such  a  war,  on  their  own  account, 
and  he  was  made  General  of  a  small  army  organized 
here.  The  project  was  brought  to  naught  by  colonial 
authority,  and  on  account  of  this  discomfiture  Mr. 
Ludlow  took  his  departure  from  us  and  made  a  new 
home  in  Virginia.  Thus  Connecticut  and  Fairfield 
alike  were  losers  of  an  honest  and  capable  man,  who 
had   held   high   offices   and   performed   much   useful 


19 

work.  His  chief  faults  appear  to  have  been  an  impe- 
rious temper  and  undue  confidence  in  his  own  opinion. 
His  home  here  cannot  be  definitely  ascertained,  but 
is  supposed  to  have  been  not  far  from  the  present 
residence  of  Mrs.  Benson. 

In  connection  with  this  mention  of  a  small  army, 
home-made  as  were  the  most  of  our  productions,  I 
will  speak  of  another  military  spectacle  in  our  town 
that  appeared  about  ninety  years  later.  In  1768,  a 
portion  of  his  majesty's  48th  Highlanders  were  quar- 
tered here.  The  town  meeting  took  pity  upon  our 
Gaelic  guests  whose  short  breeks  left  their  knees  un- 
coverd  to  the  biting  cold,  and  with  other  supplies  raised 
by  tax,  they  voted  ^23  to  furnish  wood  for  the  High- 
land troops. 

This  passing  notice  of  military  topics  would  not  be 
complete  unless  allusion  were  made  to  that  institution 
of  every  Connecticut  town  the  Trayne  band  with  its 
drillings  six  days  every  year,  begun  at  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  often  with  the  solemnity  of  prayer. 

Into  a  minute  description  of  other  institutions  of 
those  early  years  I  cannot  enter. 

We  learn  from  the  provisions  made  in  town  meet- 
ings for  the  support  of  the  teacher  that  schools  were 
soon  established. 

The  Prime   Ecclesiastical   Society  was  co-existant 
with  the  town  and  the  only  other  religious  organiza- 
tion near  the  centre  was  that  of  the  Church  of  Eng-' 
land,  which  had  its  distinct  beginning  here  in    i  724. 
In  explanation  of  the  statements  already  made  of  the 


20 

amount  of  business  carried  on,  we  must  remember 
that  Fairfield  village  was  the  centre  of  a  large  and 
growing  farming  community.  A  few  farms  nearly 
connected  with  it,  were  all  that  then  existed  of 
Mill  River,  now  known  as  the  flourishing  borough  of 
Southport.  As  for  our  enterprising  neighbor  on  the 
Pequonnock,  her  few  scattered  houses  as  yet  had  given 
no  presage  of  the  business  capacities  latent  within 
her,  of  the  vast  factories  that  have  since  supplied  the 
world  with  their  destructive  and  useful  productions, 
nor  of  the  gorgeous  spectacles  that  go  forth  thence 
to  astonish  and  delight  the  nations.  To  show  how 
early  the  fruitfulness  of  Bridgeport  soil  was  under- 
stood, I  quote  from  the  Fairfield  town  records  of 
May,  7,  1719  the  following  item  :  "The  town  grants 
unto  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cooke  of  Stratford  the  whole 
right  in  the  herbage  of  Golden  Hill,  both  meadow 
and  upland,  which  grant  to  continue  during  the  town's 
pleasure." 

In  the  grand  list  of  1775,  where  one-hundred  and 
sixty-nine  towns  are  enumerated,  Fairfield  stands 
seventh  in  taxable  wealth.  Her  political  and  social 
powers  were  also  great.  Her  representatives  carried 
the  point  in  the  General  court,  of  having  twelve 
jurors  instead  of  six  in  judicial  trials.  Mr.  Ludlow 
had  been  the  first  man  to  codify  the  laws  of  the  col- 
ony, and  the  general  intelligence  and  integrity  prevail- 
ing in  the  town  made  it  a  place  of  attraction  to 
virtuous  and  cultivated  people. 

As  wealth  increased,  society  became  more  polished. 


21 

4 

The  mild  system  of  New  England  slavery  lightened 
some  of  the  burdens  of  the  household.  The  children 
of  these  servants  were  baptized  and  religiously  educa- 
ted, and  among  the  few  who  died  by  the  bayonets  of 
British  soldiers   in  '79,  one  was  a  negro  servant. 

I  beg  to  present  to  you  a  few  names  then  familiar 
in  the  households  of  Fairfield,  the  greater  part  of 
which  I  have  found  upon  the  marriage  records  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Eliot. 

They  are  Toney,  Tego,  Callico,  York,  Priamus, 
Primus,  Titus  and  Prince,  married  respectively  to 
Dorcas,  Sue,  Dinah,  Kate,  Luce  Jute,  Nance  and 
Phillis.  In  addition  to  these  may  be  mentioned 
Marrimo,  Parrot,  Pompy,  Sambo,  Boston,  Lyd, 
Floro,  Tama,  Dolphin  and  Dran. 

After  these  servants  of  earthly  masters  I  will  next 
name  the  ministers  who  officiated  in  the  Fairfield 
churches  in  1779.  The  prime  ancient  society  had 
for  its  pastor  Andrew  Eliot,  son  of  Andrew  Eliot,  D. 
D.,  of  Boston,  who  was  invited  here  from  a  steward- 
ship at  Harvard,  Captain  Abel  having  gone  on  horse- 
back to  Boston  to  convey  to  him  a  call.  He  was 
ordained  June  22d,  1774,  and  after  a  useful  ministry 
of  more  than  thirty-one  years,  fell  asleep  among  his 
people,  September  26th,  1 705. . 

During  the  war  he  was  a  zealous  advocate  of  In- 
dependence and  his  account  of  the  scenes  of  the  7th 
and  8th  of  July  is  probably  the  most  graphic  narrative 
that  has  come  down  to  us  of  the  events  we  commemo- 
rate to-day.     Mr.  Eliot  was  a  scholar  of  distinguished 


22 


ability,  and  under  his  instruction  the  late  Prof.  Benj. 
Silliman  was  prepared  to  enter  Yale  College  at  a  very 
early  age. 

The  Rev.  John  Sayre  was  minister  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  having  previously  served  a  Parish  in  Newburg. 
He  was  a  decided  loyalist  and  in  the  great  excitement 
of  those  times  he  had  been  for  a  season  banished 
from  his  home  and  parish.  But  many  of  the  most 
respectable  of  the  towns-people,  both  within  and  out- 
side of  his  church,  although  they  had  no  sympathy 
with  his  political  opinions,  esteeming  him  as  a  Godly 
and  useful  minister,  procured  his  recall.  On  the  7th 
of  July,  after  the  firing  had  begun  and  the  flames  had 
been  kindled,  Mr.  Sayre  appeared  among  the  people 
with  the  British  General's  address,  and  by  this  action 
aroused  great  indignation  against  himself. 

He  entreated  from  Gen.  Tryon  the  exemption  of 
the  town  from  the  flames.  Failing  in  this,  he  begged 
that  a  few  houses  includingr  his  own  and  that  of  Mr. 
Eliot,  might  be  spared.  P""or  these  he  obtained  a 
written  protection,  but  the  paper  proved  useless,  and 
both  of  these  ministers  were  involved  with  the  most 
of  their  townsmen  in  the  total  loss  of  their  property. 
Mr.  Sayre,  with  his  wife  and  eight  young  children, 
stripped  of  every  earthly  possession,  excepting  the 
clothes  they  were  wearing,  found  refuge  on  board  the 
British  fleet,  and  after  serving  a  church  in  Nova  Sco- 
tia, he  closed  his  earthly  ministry.  A  similar  calam- 
ity of  fire  was  suffered  by  Rev.  Hezekiah  Ripley,  the 
able   and    excellent    pastor  of    the    Green's    Farm's. 


23 

church.  Dr.  Ripley  served  for  a  time  as  chaplain  in 
the  Continental  army,  and  had  a  long  and  honored 
pastorate  at  Green's  Farms. 

The  most  prominent  physician  here  in  those  years 
was  Dr.  Francis  Forgue.  He  had  married  the  charm- 
ing widow  of  Mr.  Dennie,  and  lived  in  the  home  left 
to  her  by  her  first  husband,  near  the  site  of  Mrs.  John 
Sanford's  house.  As  a  county  seat,  Fairfield  offered 
an  attractive  home  for  the  legal  profession.  Promi- 
nent among  our  lawyers,  was  Judge  Jonathan  Sturges, 
whose  home  was  near  the  present  junction  of  the 
Railway  and  Mill  Plain  road.  He  was  active  in  all 
town  affairs,  and  became  one  of  the  members  of  the 
Congress  of  1 789,  the  first  that  greeted  Washington 
as  president  of  the  United  States.  Another  eminent 
lawyer  was  Gold  Selleck  Silliman,  whose  dwelling  yet 
stands  on  Holland  Hill.  He  is  better  known  to  us 
in  a  military  capacity,  having  served  in  the  battles  of 
Long  Island,  White  Plains  and  Ridgefield.  To  him  had 
been  assigned  the  command  of  the  militia  in  this  county, 
and  his  skill  as  a  General  was  so  highly  appreciated 
that  Sir  Henry  Clinton  employed  a  small  company  of 
tory  soldiers  to  make  him  prisoner.  They  came,  eight 
in  number,  from  a  whale  boat,  with  which  they  had 
crossed  from  Long  Island,  leaving  it  in  charge  of  the 
ninth  of  their  band,  hid  in  the  sedges  of  Black  Rock. 
Stealthily  feeling  their  way  up  the  steep  hill  at  mid- 
night they  forced  a  passage  into  the  dwelling  and 
secured  the  prize.  Gen.  Silliman  was  deacon  in  the 
old  Fairfield  church  and  had  in  charge  the  vessels  to 


24 

be  used  on  that  Sabbath  which  had  already  begun  at 
the  hour  of  sunset.  With  great  presence  of  mind, 
he  cast  one  of  his  wife's  garments  over  these  utensils, 
thus  screening  them  from  observation,  and  then,  with 
his  son  William,  took  his  unwilling  march  to  enter 
upon  a  year's  captivity.  This  was  on  the  first  night 
of  May,  '79,  and  his  enforced  absence  during  the 
coming  July,  caused  the  command  to  be  devolved  at 
that  season  upon  Col.  Samuel  Whiting,  of  Stratford, 
who  bravely  fulfilled  the  duties  thus  imposed. 

With  Gen.  Silliman's  name  is  associated  that  of 
Lieut.  Col.  Abraham  Gold,  the  home  of  whose  ances- 
tors and  descendants  has  belonged  to  the  family  more 
than  two  hundred  years.  These  two  had  fought  in 
the  same  fields  of  battle.  The  latest  occasion  of  their 
warlike  companionship  was  at  Ridgefield,  in  April, 
1777,  where  Gen.  Worster  was  mortally  wounded  and 
Col.  Gold  was  slain.  His  home  was  where  the  main 
street  turns  northward  toward  Stratfield,  Stratford 
and  New  Haven,  a  part  of  the  old  King's  highway 
between  New  York  and  Boston,  the  lower  road  now 
leading  to  Bridgeport  not  having  been  opened  at  that 
time. 

In  the  conflagration  of  the  town,  his  widow,  with 
their  chidren,  lost  their  dwelling  house  which  bounded 
the  limit  of  the  fire  in  that  direction. 

On  the  corner  below  us,  now  occupied  by  the 
beautiful  lawn  on  which  Mr.  Henry  Beer's  house 
stands,  lived  Capt.  Samuel  Smedley.  When  very 
young  he  married  Esther  Rowland,  his  near  neighbor. 


25 

and  early  In  the  war,  became  an  officer  on  the  Con- 
necticut armed  vessel  the  Defense,  of  which  he  was 
soon  promoted  to  the  chief  command.  Among  the 
valuable  prizes  he  took  were  the  Snowswift,  the  Grog, 
the  Anna  and  the  Lydia.  In  consort  with  Capt. 
Parker  of  the  Cromwell,  another  Connecticut  ship, 
two  armed  British  vessels  were  attacked,  the  Admiral 
Keppel  of  1 8  guns  and  the  Cyrus  of  i6.  It  was  a 
time  of  partial  disablement  on  the  Defense,  one  of 
Capt.  Smedley's  officers  had  died  of  small  pox  and 
fifty  of  the  crew  having  been  exposed  to  the  disease, 
had  been  inocculated.  Yet  though  suffering  from 
the  fever  attending  this  process,  the  men  did  noble 
service.  Both  the  English  ships  were  captured  and 
the  prizes  including  their  cargoes  sold,  the  one  for 
about  ^20,000,  and  the  other,  to  give  exact  figures, 
for  ^22,320  1 8s.  and  8d.  After  the  war  was  closed 
Capt.  Smedley  received  the  appointment  of  Collector 
of  this  port. 

The  Sheriff  of  the  county  in  those  days  was  Gen. 
Elijah  Abel  whose  house  was  the  second  one  set  o^^ 
fire.  This  he  afterward  rebuilt  and  it  is  occupied  by 
Mrs.  Benson.  Gen.  Able  was  an  active  man  in  the 
affairs  of  the  county,  the  town,  the  militia  and  the 
church. 

Mr.  Andrew  Rowland  filled  during  many  years  the 
important  office  of  Town  Clerk,  and  his  dwelling 
which  survived  the  fire,  is  now  the  house  of  Mr. 
Benjamin  Betts. 

In  the  group  of  families  bearing  the  familiar  name 


26 

of  Burr,  that  of  Mr.  Thaddeus  Burr  and  Eunice,  his 
wife,  stands  prominent.       His  dwelHng  was  on  the 

site  of  the  house  of  Mr.  O.  W.  Jones,  and  many 
traditions  have  come  down  to  us  of  the  plenty, 
elegance  and  hospitality  which  characterized  that 
home.  Within  it  were  welcomed  friends  driven  out 
of  Boston  at  the  time  of  its  blockade.  There,  one 
of  the  most  noted  beauties  of  that  city,  Dorothy, 
daughter  of  Edmund  Quincy,  was,  on  the  28th  of 
August,  1779,  married  to  John  Hancock,  President  of 
the  Continental  Congress. 

Andrew  Eliot,  who  records  this  marriage,  places  it 
in  its  order  next  to  that  of  Jack,  negro  servant  of 
David  Barlow,  and  Mary,  negro  servant  of  Deacon 
Hill.  The  nuptial  tie,  like  the  grip  of  death,  clutches 
mortals  of  every  station.  To  Mr.  Burr's  dwelling 
Gen.  Tyron  had  given  a  protection,  but  this  did  not 
avail  to  save  it  and  its  valuable  contents  from  des- 
truction. 

The  affidavit  of  Mrs.  Burr,  an  intelligent  and  re- 
fined women,  describing  the  scene  of  which  she  was 
a  witness,  presents  a  forcible  demonstration  of  the 
wanton  outrages  committed  by  the  invadors  of  our 
soil.  The  same  may  be  said  also  of  the  sworn  state- 
ments made  by  others  who  witnessed  similar  scenes  in 
their  own  dwellings.  Of  these  I  may  mention  the 
names  of  Jane  and  Abigail  Bulkley,  Mary  Beers, 
Isabella  Trubee,  Ruana  Roberson  and  Ann  Nichols, 
all  of  them  wives  of  Fairfield  men.  All  offered  vain 
entreaties  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  the  homes 
over  which  they  were  watching. 


27 

In  considering  the  calamity  that  came  upon  this 
people,  we  must  not  forget  that  down  to  the  year 
1765,  they,  with  all  their  New  England  compatriots 
had  been  thoroughly  loyal  to  the  English  Govern- 
ment. 

The  news  of  Clive's  wonderful  victory  at  Plassy  in 
1757,  which  laid  the  foundation  of  a  British 
Empire  in  India,  had  been  hailed  by  them  with  glad 
acclamation.  They  did  not  foresee  that  policy  which 
to  help  the  fortunes  of  the  East  India  company 
would  seek  to  force  its  stores  of  tea  upon  unwilling 
America. 

These  colonists  also  bore  much  of  the  burden  laid 
upon  them  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  and  when 
Quebec  was  taken  and  the  treaty  with  France  in  1 763 
secured  the  possession  of  Canada  as  British  territory, 
our  own  town,  with  all  others  in  New  England, 
welcomed  the  splendid  results  of  Chatham's  states- 
manship and  Wolfe's  heroic  valor. 

But  the  stamp  act  of  a  two  years'  later  date  turn- 
ed back  the  current  of  this  loyalty.  The  sanctions 
of  constitutional  law  wrung  by  our  fathers  from  the 
hands  of  an  unwilling  king  at  Runnymede,  and  the 
principles  that  occasioned  and  sustained  the  Pilgrim 
exodus  were  alike  arrayed  against  the  new  stand 
taken  by  the  British  ministry.  Throughout  our 
whole  land  the  controversy  waxed  stronger,  until  ten  . 
years  after  its  beginning  it  found  vent  in  the  bullets 
of  Lexington. 

During  these  years  men  were  brought  face  to  face 


28 

with  the  question  which  each  must  answer  for  him- 
self. Fairfield  answered  it  with  almost  entire  unan- 
imity, and  in  response  to  those  Massachusetts 
muskets  of  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  fifty  of  her  militia, 
under  Capt.  David  Dimon,  were  speedily  on  their 
march  toward  Boston. 

Connecticut  has  been  fortunate  in  the  choice  of  her 
governors,  and  the  chief  magistrate  of  our  common- 
wealth who  is  with  us  to-day  belongs  to  a  company 
of  noble  men,  and  is,  we  believe,  worthy  to  be  en- 
rolled in  such  a  companionship.  We  feel  all  the 
more  confident  in  trusting  the  administration  of 
Governor  Andrews  because  he  had  Jonathan  Trum- 
bull as  one  of  his  predecessors.  Brother  Jonathan, 
Washington's  prudent  adviser,  to  whose  wisdom  and 
patriotism  the  chief  of  the  nation  gave  clearest  tes- 
timony. Under  the  counsels  of  this  man,  holding 
the  highest  ofiice  in  the  State,  Connecticut,  from  the 
first,  took  an  active  and  important  part  in  the  conduct 
of  the  war.  Gov.  Trumbull,  as  contrasted  with 
Tryon,  the  Royal  Governor  of  our  neighboring 
State  of  New  York,  reminds  us  of  objects  presented 
by  Jotham's  ancient  allegory.  One  was  a  cedar  of 
Lebanon,  under  whose  shadow  men  came  for  shelter 
and  strength  ;  the  other,  the  bramble,  out  of  whose 
thorny  spines  shot  forth  the  flames  that  blasted  and 
consumed. 

Some  of  the  sons  of  Fairfield  were  early  enlisted 
among  the  Continental  troops  sent  to  the  defense  of 
New  York.     They  shared  in  the  disaster  of   Long 


29 

Island  and  White  Plains.  They  had  their  represen- 
tatives among  the  captives  of  the  sugar  house  and 
prison  ship.  On  an  exchange  of  prisoners  some  re- 
turned suffering  from  small-pox,  that  scourge  of  the 
army,  and  near  the  old  powder  house  a  commodious 
barn  was  fitted  up  as  a  hospital  for  them.  In  our 
town  meeting,  during  the  want  occasioned  by  the 
blockade  of  Boston,  an  effort  to  obtain  food  for  the 
suffering  people  resulted  in  the  despatch  of  750 
bushels  of  grain  for  their  relief.  The  thankful  ac- 
knowledgment of  this  timely  gift  may  be  read  upon 
our  records,  and  it  is  one  of  the  writings  of  which 
none  of  our  townsmen  need  to  be  ashamed.  The  im- 
portant articles  of  association  passed  by  Congress, 
October  14th,  1774,  met  with  hearty  response  among 
us,  and  a  large  committee,  consisting  of  some  of  our 
most  prominent  citizens,  was  formed  to  make  the 
pledge  effectual.  It  was  designed  to  free  our  people 
from  dependence  upon  goods  imported  from  Eng- 
land, to  encourage  the  practice  of  economy,  alike  in 
sports,  luxuries  and  mourning  apparel,  and  to  frus- 
trate the  efforts  of  any  who  might  seek  to  weaken 
the  patriotic  sentiment  now  rapidly  advancing  toward 
the  final  conflict. 

During  these  years,  active  measures  were  taken  to 
prevent  surprise  by  sudden  incursion  upon  our  coasts. 
Alarm  signals  were  concerted  and  guards  stationed 
at  Stratfield,  Compo,  Frost  Point,  and  McKenzie's 
Point,  to  keep  watch  from  sunset  to  sunrise.  The 
fort  on  Grover's  Hill  was  strengthened  and  supplied 


30 

with  i2lb.  cannon  and  ammunition  for  the  use  of  its 
garrison  of  25  men.  These  were  enough  to  act  as 
sentinels  throughout  during  the  day.  They  proved 
afterward,  though  a  Uttle  decreased  in  number,  vic- 
torious against  all  the  force  that  could  be  sent  against 
them. 

In  May,  1779,  an  unavailing  request  was  made  to 
the  Governor  and  Council  for  an  armed  vessel  to 
guard  our  coasts  during  that  approaching  summer, 
for  even  then  there  were  portents  of  dread  events  to 
come  troubling  the  minds  of  our  people.  The  last 
action  taken  in  town  meeting,  before  the  house  of  its 
assembly  was  consumed,  was  the  adoption  of  a  reso- 
lution designed  to  arrest  the  depreciation  of  paper 
money. 

I  have  spoken  of  Gov.  Tryon.  The  story  of  our 
disasters  could  not  be  told  without  the  frequent  men- 
tion of  his  name.  Among  the  distinguished  visitors 
whom  Fairfield  has  entertained,  this  British  Gover- 
nor and  Major-General  stands  pre-eminent.  So  fas- 
cinated were  our  people  with  him  during  his  brief 
stay  of  less  than  thirty  hours,  that  twelve  days  after 
his  departure  a  committee  was  appointed  in  town 
meeting  to  raise  a  sum  of  money  to  be  offered  as  a 
reward  to  any  person  who  should  "  captivate  "  and 
take  him. 

Sir  Wm.  Tryon,  Bart,  makes  his  earliest  appear- 
ance in  American  History  as  Governor  of  the 
Province  of  North  Carolina.  Assuming  a  vice  royal 
state,  he   built  a  palace    in    Newbern,  and    to  sup- 


31 

port  the  expenses  attending  his  dignity  oppressed 
the  people  with  heavy  taxation.  An  insurrection 
was  caused  by  his  petty  tyrany,  which  he  suppressed 
with  the  bullets  of    his  guards. 

On  the  8th  of  July,  1771,  he  was  transferred  to 
New  York,  and  appointed  to  the  same  station  in 
that  province,  having  his  residence  in  its  chief  city. 
Surrounded  there  by  active  and  intelligent  loyalists 
he  yielded  credence  to  their  expressed  statements 
that  through  the  weakness  of  resources  and  the 
jealousies  and  corruption  too  manifest  among  them- 
selves, the  American  people  who  had  engaged  in 
the  conflict  must  ultimately  yield  to  the  greater 
power  of  the  mother  country.  Tryon  had  much 
vanity  in  his  character;  this  he  had  shown  in  New- 
bern,  this  also  appears  in  his  ordering  a  new  county 
to  be  made  from  Albany,  to  which  his  name  was 
attached,  now  substituted  by  that  of  Montgomery. 
He  had  the  disposition  to  be  active  in  the  contest 
that  when  the  rebellion  had  been  crushed,  King 
George  might  be  constrained  to  give  to  him  a 
better  title  than  that  of  Baronet.  Yet,  although 
he  had  physical  courage,  it  is  unfortunate  for  his 
reputation  that  he  never  availed  himself  of  his 
high  standing  in  the  British  army  to  encounter  an 
organized  force  in  the  open  field. 

He  tried  the  art  of  rhetoric,  addressing  letters 
to  Gov.  Trumbull,  Gen.  Parsons,  and  others,  in 
which  he  sought  to  convince  them  of  the  hope- 
lessness of   their  cause.     A  specimen  of  his  power 


32 

in  this  direction  is  before  us  in  the  famous  address 
issued  to  the  people  of  Connecticut  and  widely 
scattered  at  New  Haven  and  Fairfield.  This  told 
them  that  their  towns,  their  property  and  them- 
selves were  within  the  grasp  of  a  power  whose 
forbearance  they  had  ungenerously  construed  into 
fear,  and  urged  them  to  humble  themselves  because 
of   their  delusion  and  conscious  guilt. 

Tryon's  pen  in  all  these  efforts  proved  powerless. 

Another  course  he  pursued  was  one  of  treachery. 
He  corrupted  some  near  the  person  of  Washington 
in  expectation  that  the  American  General  might  be 
made  his   prisoner,  but  in  this   he  was  foiled. 

He  made  similar  efforts  to  secure  the  capture  of 
Putnam,  but  his  secret  agent  was  discovered  and 
taken.  When  Tryon  sent  a  threatening  message 
demanding  his  release,  the  reply  came  back  from 
Peekskill  in  this  curt  and  comprehensive  note  : 

To  Gov.  Tryon,  Sir :  Nathan  Palmer  a  lieutenant 

in  your   service  was    taken    in  my  camp   as  a  spy  ; 

he  was  tried  as  a  spy  ;  he  was  condemned  as  a  spy  ; 

and  you   may  rest  assured,  Sir,  he  shall  be  hanged 

as  a  spy. 

I   have  the  honor  to  be  &c., 

Israel  Putnam. 
P.  S. — Afternoon  :     He  is  handed. 

Gen.  Tryon's  warlike  achievements  were  each  con- 
nected with   the  people  of  Fairfield   County.     The 


33 

first  was  in  the  spring  of  'yy,  when  he  landed  at 
Compo  with  two  thousand  troops  and  burned  a  por- 
tion of  Danbury — with  this  the  battle  of  Ridgefield 
was  closely  associated.  Gen.  Silliman  and  the  Fair- 
field  militia  and  artillery  then  first  encountered  the 
man  who  was  two  years  later  to  set  their  town  on  fire. 

The  second  of  these  expeditions  was  made  by  land, 
in  February,  1779,  and  is  connected  with  the  story  of 
Putnam's  famous  leap  at  Horse  Neck  Hill.  The 
third,  and  most  interesting  to  us,  was  the  descent 
upon  this  portion  of  the  coast  occupying  about  ten 
days  in  July,  1779. 

We  fnay  properly  pause  here  and  inquire  what 
were  the  motives  that  led  to  this  predatory  warfare. 
Gen.  Tryon  held  no  special  grudge  against  these 
three  towns.  He  was  not  like  John  Butler,  who 
cherished  intense  hatred  toward  the  Connecticut 
colony  of  Wyoming,  and  whose  people,  with  the  aid 
of  his  savage  allies,  he  massacred  in  cold  blood. 
He  had  no  such  occasion  of  offence  as  later  in  the 
war  brought  Benedict  Arnold  to  wreak  vengeance 
on  his  native  town  of    Norwich. 

Tryon  acted  under  instructions  from  the  English 
ministry  and  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  the  comman- 
der-in-chief of  all  the  British  forces  in  America. 
The  former  were  incensed  at  the  recent  alliance 
formed  between  France  and  America.  To  them  it 
appeared  like  the  mortgaging  of  English  property  to 
England's  ancient  foe,  and  whatever  could  be  done 
to  damage  that  property  was  in  accord  with   justice 


34 

and  propriety.  The  success  of  American  privateers 
had  also  been  a  source  of  great  annoyance,  and 
the  depredations  on  peaceful  towns  might,  it  was 
thought,  discourage  such  undertakings. 

Gen.  Clinton  favored  the  expedition  for  military 
reasons.  With  the  exception  of  an  army  at  New- 
port and  a  small  post  on  the  Penobscot,  New  Eng- 
land at  this  time  was  free  from  British  troops  The 
active  measures  of  the  war  had  been  transferred  to 
the  south,  but  Clinton  held  a  large  and  well  organ- 
ized army  at  or  near  New  York.  Meanwhile,  the 
American  General  was  guarding  the  passage  of  the 
Hudson,  with  his  headquarters  at  New  Windsor,  and 
his  troops  stationed  among  the  highlands.  To  draw 
Washington  from  this  secure  position,  and  to  force 
him  to  a  battle  on  the  open  field,  with  all  the  advan- 
tage of  numbers  and  discipline  on  the  British  side, 
was  the  purpose  and  wish  of  Clinton.  Many  at  the 
time  blamed  the  American  commander-in-chief  be- 
cause he  did  not  march  to  the  succor  of  distressed 
Connecticut,  but  time,  and  the  events  of  history  have 
vindicated  both  his  judgment  and  humanity  in  the 
course  he  pursued. 

The  ends  aimed  at  by  the  British  ministry  and 
military  commander  were  not  realized,  and  this  sack 
of  the  dwellings  of  inoffensive  people  added  neither 
credit  nor  strength  to  the  British  cause.  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  recalled  the  fleet  without  allowing  the  intend- 
ed descent  upon  New  London  which  was  to  follow 
the  burning  of  Norwalk.      It  may  be  his  acute  mind 


35 

perceived  a  mistake  had  been  made.  Sympathy  was 
aroused  even  among  some  who  were  enemies,  and  the 
patriotic  spirit  of  our  own  people  was  more  than  ever 
intensified.  Dr.  Franklin,  in  a  letter,  quotes  Paul 
Jones,  the  valiant  privateer,  as  saying  that  the  burn- 
inof  of  Fairfield  and  other  towns  had  demolished  all 
his  moderation. 

As  we  endeavor  to  picture  the  appearance  of  our 
own  town  when  this  descent  was  made,  we  must  not 
think  of  it  as  an  old  and  dilapidated  settlement. 
Although  well  nigh  a  hundred  and  forty  years  had 
passed  since  the  colonists  laid  their  first  foundations, 
scarcely  a  vestige  of  their  earliest  buildings  remained. 
They  had  given  place  to  larger  and  better  structures. 
The  Prime  Ancient  Society  still  retaining  their  original 
site,  had  erected  upon  it  in  1747  their  third  house  of 
worship.  Its  dimensions  were  60  by  44  feet,  and  its 
steeple  was  1 20  feet  high. 

The  Episcopal  church,  which,  in  1 738,  took  the 
place  of  the  first  building  on  Mill  Plain,  stood  on 
Main  street,  facing  the  street  that  leads  to  our  pres- 
ent post-office,  on  what  is  now  Mr.  Henry  Rowland's 
place  ;  it  was  also  a  commodious  building  with  a 
steeple  100  feet  in  height.  The  court-house  on  this 
central  green  had  only  recently  been  erected  in  place 
of  one  standinof  before  where  Mr.  Hobart's  store  now 
stands.  A  noted  thief  named  Fraser,  confined  in  the 
jail  then  connected  with  it,  had  set  that  building  on 
fire  on  the  4th  of  April,  1768.  Hence  had  come  the 
rebuilding,  and  the  erection  of  a  separate  prison  which 


36 

was  located  where  St.  Paul's  church  now  stands.  All 
these  comparatively  recent  structures  were  consumed, 
together  with  Penfield's  Sun  Tavern  which  also  faced 
the  green.  The  public  and  private  buildings  were 
creditable  to  the  taste  and  prosperity  of  the  people. 

The  village  was  surrounded  with  meadows,  whose 
stores  of  hay  had  recently  been  gathered  into  barns, 
and  the  wheat  harvest,  which  promised  great  abund- 
ance, had  just  begun. 

On  Saturday  evening,  the  3d  day  of  July,  the  Bri- 
tish fleet  weighed  anchor  off  the  port  of  Whitestone, 
eleven  miles  east  of  New  York.  During  the  spring, 
it  had  made  a  destructive  raid  upon  Virginia,  and  re- 
turned in  time  to  aid  General  Clinton  in  his  success- 
ful assault  upon  Verplanck's  and  Stony  Point  on  the 
first  of  June. 

The  New  York  Sons  of  Liberty  had  been  informed 
of  preparations  for  a  fresh  departure,  and  sent  cour- 
iers to  New  London  to  warn  that  city  of  the  coming 
invader. 

Sunday,  the  fourth  of  July,  was  a  warm,  calm  day. 
Our  people  were  in  their  churches,  and  the  vessels 
could  scarcely  have  appeared  in  view  before  the  night 
came  on.  The  light  breeze  had  no  power  to  move 
them  swiftly  on  their  course.  There  were  two  large 
men-of-war,  the  Camilla  and  Scorpion,  and  forty- 
eight  row  galleys,  tenders  and  transports.  Sir 
George  Collier  commanded  the  fleet  and  General 
Tryon  the  land  forces,  about  twenty-six  hundred  in 
number.   Brigadier-General  Garth  had  special  charge 


37 

of  the  Hessian  regiments,  the  Landgraves  and 
Yaegers.  The  English  forces  consisted  of  two- 
bodies  of  Fusileers,  the  Guards,  the  Fifty-fourth 
regiment  of  foot  and  the  King's  American  regiment, 
refugees  enlisted  in  the  British  army.  Early  on  Mon- 
day morning,  the  squadron  came  to  anchor  near  New 
Haven,  where  on  that  day  and  Tuesday  the  troops 
pursued  their  desolating  work.  On  the  evening  of 
Tuesday  the  fleet  left  New  Haven,  and  during  that 
night  was  moving  toward  Fairfield.  About  four 
o'clock  of  Wednesday  a  gun  from  the  fort  on  Gro- 
ver's  Hill  announced  its  approach,  but  it  seemed  to 
be  passing  by,  and  about  seven  o'clock  the  people 
who  were  anxiously  watching  it  were  rejoiced  to  see 
that  it  was  steering  westward,  proceeding,  as  they 
thought,  to  New  York.  Soon  after  a  very  thick  fog 
came  on,  during  which  the  vessels  were  obscured 
from  view,  but  when  this  dispersed,  between  9  and 
10  o'clock  it  was  seen  with  consternation  that  the 
whole  fleet  was  under  our  western  shore,  where  they 
came  to  anchor  at  the  Pines,  which  have  since  dis- 
appeared, a  little  to  the  east  of  McKenzie  s  Point. 
From  Gen.  Tryon's  report,  it  appears  that  he  with 
the  main  portion  of  the  troops  landed  there,  and 
that  the  Hessians,  under  Gen.  Garth,  made  their  dis- 
embarkation at  the  water  front  of  Sasco  Hill,  over 
which  they  marched  to  take  possession  of  the 
western  section  of  the  town. 

Tryon,   with    the    troops    immediately    under    his 
command,  marched   along  the   beach   and  turned  up 


38 

the  Beach  Lane,  somewhat  galled  by  the  guns  of 
Grover's  Hill.  They  pursued  their  way  to  this  point 
where  we  are  now  assembled,  and  where,  on  the  site 
of  our  Town  Hall,  the  Court  House  was  then  stand- 
ing. 

The  British  General  was  guided  by  George  Hoyt, 
who  was  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Bulkley. 

His  house,  since  demolished,  stood  on  the  ground 
where  Mr.  John  Glover  has  his  home,  and  Gen 
Tryon  made  his  headquarters  while  here.  With 
this,  the  dwellings  of  Capt.  Maltbie,  Justin  Hobart, 
and  Nathan  and  Peter  Bulkley,  were  saved  from  the 
fire.  These  are  now  in  the  possession  of  Edmund 
Hobart,  Miss  Hannah  Hobart,  and  the  Denison 
estate. 

The  line  of  the  conflagration  extended  from  Mrs. 
Gould's  house  to  Mill  River,  in  the  vicinity  of  Per- 
ry's Mill,  including  both  the  streets  and  their  imme- 
diate neighborhood,  and  extended  westward  through 
the  lower  road  at  Green's  Farms. 

To  silence  the  guns  at  the  fort  where  Lieut.  Isaac 
Jarvis  had  a  garrison  of  twenty-three  men,  a  galley 
had  been  dispatched,  but  although  there  was  constant 
firing  throughout  the  night  of  Wednesday,  and 
several  detachments  of  troops  tried  to  take  the  fort 
by  assault,  it  was  gallantly  defended  and  held  out  to 
the  end. 

As  the  troops  marched  up  toward  the  centre  of 
the  town,  young  Sam.  Rowland,  then  ten  years  of 
age,  saw  them   from   the    steeple   at    the   Episcopal 


39 

church,  but  he  was  soon  sent  home  from  his  dan- 
gerous position,  and  his  grand -children  to-day  re- 
peat the  story  they  heard  in  their  childhood  from  his 
lips.  Mrs.  Gen.  Silliman  from  the  home  of  her  tem- 
porary widowhood  on  Holland  Hill,  heard  the  first 
guns  of  the  conflict  and  set  out  for  a  safe  asylum 
in  Trumbull,  where  a  few  weeks  later  her  second  son, 
the  distinguished  Yale  Professor  was  born. 

Before  the  landing  was  effected,  Mrs.  Esther  Jen- 
nings, the  young  wife  of  Peter  Burr,  went  early  to 
the  pasture  fields  near  McKenzie's  Point  and  drove 
the  cattle  there  feeding  to  a  safe  refuge  on  Green- 
field Hill.  Thither  and  to  Fairfield  Woods  many  of 
the  little  children  with  much  furniture  were  removed 
in  carts  and  chaises,  while  some  of  the  women  re- 
mained to  guard  the  dwellings.  The  company  who 
had  charge  of  a  field  piece,  wheeled  it  to  a  good  po- 
sition on  Burr's  highway.  The  men  in  the  village 
and  farm-houses  grasped  their  muskets  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  rallied  under  command  of  Col.  Whiting  at 
the  rendevous  on  Round  Hill. 

Tryon's  march  to  the  green  was  the  signal  of  their 
resistance,  and  a  small  company  under  Capt.  Thomas 
Nash,  made  a  brilliant  attack  upon  the  English 
troops,  firing  from  behind  the  fences,  and  killing  a 
few  who  were  laid  in  shallow  graves  by  their  com- 
rades on  the  meeting-house  grounds.  These  after- 
wards were  removed  to  permanent  rest  in  our  ancient 
cemetery. 

About  this  time  it   would    appear    that    the    first 


40 

house  was  fired,  the  one  belonging  to  Isaac  Jennings 
on  whose  site  Mrs.  Esther  Huntington  now  lives. 
Then  came  the  flag  from  Gen.  Tryon  and  the  read- 
ing of  that  address  of  which  I  have  spoken.  Col. 
Whiting  sent  back  this  spirited  reply  : 

"  Connecticut  having  nobly  dared  to  take  up  arms 
against  the  cruel  despotism  of  Britain,  and  as  the 
flames  have  now  preceded  the  answer  to  your  flag, 
they  will  persist  to  oppose  to  the  utmost  that  power 
exerted  against  injured  innocence." 

In  resistance  of  an  organized  army  who  held  pos- 
session of  the  town  it  was  impossible  for  the  militia 
to  concentrate  an  effectual  force.  The  night  was 
coming  on — that  Wednesday  night  of  the  7th,  which 
witnessed  scenes  of  debauchery  and  cruelty  such  as 
Fairfield  has  never  known  at  any  other  period  of 
her  history.  The  Hessian  general  held  the  Western 
portion  of  the  town,  and  his  regiment  of  Yaegers 
are  described  as  skulking  and  yelling  like  the  wild 
savages  of  the  forest.  The  detachments  broke  up 
into  small  squads  and  some  of  the  governor's  guards 
engaged  in  a  dance  in  the  Sun  Tavern  on  the  green. 
Most  of  the  soldiers  were  passing  in  little  companies 
from  house  to  house,  pillaging  and  wasting  provis- 
ions, breaking  up  glass,  earthenware  and  furniture, 
stealing  the  watches,  jewelry  and  shoe-buckles  from 
the  persons  of  women,  taking  from  them  even  their 
aprons  and  handkerchiefs,  and  with  oaths  and  ri- 
baldry, grossly  insulting  them.  Many  soldiers  were 
drunk  with   liquor  or  strong  cider   they  had  stolen. 


41 

Tryon  reports  that  they  lay  on  their  arms  during  the 
night,  and  Dr.  Dwight,  who  was  not  an  eye-witness 
to  those  scenes,  describes  in  eloquent  language  a  ter- 
rific thunder-storm.  Enough  it  is  for  us  to  hear  the 
guns  thundering  through  all  its  dark  hours  in  the  de- 
fense and  attack  of  the  little  fort,  and  to  see  one 
after  another  of  the  pillaged  houses  fall  before  the 
flames  which  the  British  general's  troops  had  kindled. 
The  burning  cinders  that  fell  that  night,  wet  with  the 
tears  of  women  then  made  homeless,  must  ever  in 
the  record  of  history  blacken  Tryon's  name. 

The  militia  did  all  they  were  able  to  accomplish, 
keeping  up  a  running  fire,  and  more  were  on  their 
way  to  join  them.  So  the  signal  of  retreat  was 
sounded  early  on  Thursday,  and  in  the  course  of 
that  morning  of  the  8th  of  July,  the  squadron  was 
off  for  Huntington,  only  to  cross  the  Sound  again, 
and  on  the  subsequent  Sunday  repeat  their  terrible 
work  at  Norwalk.  It  was  on  the  morningf  of  the 
8th  that  the  remaining  private  edifices  and  all  the 
public  buildings  were  consumed.  More  destruction 
would  doubtless  have  been  effected  but  for  the 
wholesome  fear  of  the  ambush  of  the  watchful  militia. 

The  enemy  dreaded  the  stone  walls,  fences  and 
shrubbery.  On  this  account  the  old  mill  of  Peter 
Perry,  which  had  ground  the  corn  of  the  people  for 
a  hundred  years,  was  still  left  to  do  its  work. 
Through  the  exertions  of  the  women  who  kept  watch 
some  fires  that  had  been  kindled  were  put  out.  This 
was  done  four  times  by  Mrs.  Lucretia  Redfield  dur- 


42 

ing  that  Wednesday  night,  and  the  house  she  then 
saved  stands  to-day  a  pleasant  abode  occupied  by 
some  of  the  same  name.  The  Nichols  family,  al- 
ways proverbial  for  notable  housewifery,  employed 
large  hanks  of  yarn  then  soaking  in  preparation  for 
the  dye  and  with  it  extinguished  the  flames  that  had 
begun  to  consume  their  home. 

There  were  burned  a  court  house  and  jail,  three 
churches,  two  school  houses,  ninety-seven  dwellings, 
sixty-seven  barns,  forty-eight  stores  and  shops,  in  all 
two  hundred  and  eighteen  buildings.  The  gathered 
labors  of  the  field,  the  books,  papers,  pictures,  the 
well-preserved  products  of  the  spinning  wheel  and 
needle,  the  precious  heirlooms,  tokens  of  love  and 
memorials  of  friendship,  how  were  these  brought 
into  destruction  as  in  a  moment ! 

The  sparks,  cinders  and  half  burned  feathers 
floating  in  the  summer  air — what  sickness  must  they 
have  brought  to  many  hearts  ! 

Some  things  had  been  removed  to  safe  places  be- 
yond the  reach  of  the  fire.  Isaac  Burr,  the  jeweler, 
hid  the  watches  left  for  repair  at  his  shop  within  the 
stone  fissures  of  his  well  and  placed  his  Bible  and 
some  of  his  own  precious  goods  with  them. 

Prudent  Phillis,  servant  of  Judge  Sturges,  took  the 
wet  linen  from  the  wash  tub  and  hid  it  among  the 
currant  bushes.  Pewter  dishes,  kept  bright  by  con- 
stant scouring,  were  thrown  into  the  bottom  of  wells, 
to  be  recovered  when  the  danger  was  past.  One 
looking  glass  is   still   as   reflecting  as  ever.      It  was 


43 

hidden  in  an  uncradled  rye  field,  and  when,  a  few 
days  later  a  black  man  cut  the  swath  that  revealed  it 
standing  there  upright,  he  saw  his  own  figure  in  the 
sunshine,  and  mistaking  it  for  Satan,  whom  he  feared, 
he  threw  down  his  sickle  in  terror  and  ran  away. 

The  sadness  had  by  that  time  been  mollified,  the 
people  had  begun  again  to  provide  means  for  living. 
They  made  new  homes,  some  in  warehouses  or  out- 
buildings that  had  been  spared,  some  rearing  them 
again  upon  the  old  foundations.  The  large  grant  of 
State  lands  (on  this  account  called  the  burnt  lands), 
in  Ohio,  tempted  a  few  to  find  new  homes  in  the 
West.  Some  of  our  own  people  thus  changed  their 
place  of  residence,  and  their  descendants  are  there 
abiding  to  this  day,  adorning  their  ancestral  teach- 
ings by  lives  of  honor  and  usefulness;  and  of  the  stock 
transplanted  in  this  manner  from  our  neighboring 
town  of  Norwalk,  sprung  the  two  brothers  Sherman, 
one  presiding  to-day  over  our  nation's  treasury,  and 
the  other  commanding  its  army. 

The  life  of  Fairfield  was  not  extinguished  in  its 
burning,  nor  did  the  energy  of  the  town  expire.  Its 
source  of  strength  was  too  deep  to  be  reached  by 
the  kindled  brands,  too  high  to  be  fatally  affected  by 
the  ascending  flames.  The  town  rose  from  its  ashes, 
and  has  had  an  honorable  history  down  to  the  present 
day.  From  the  fire  that  consumed  Mr.  Eliot's 
dwelling  one  book  was  rescued,  the  Church  record, 
running  back  to  1694.  In  his  clear  handwriting,  he 
inscribed    within    it  a   brief    account   of  the    events 


44 

which,  after  the  lapse  of  a  century,  we  now  recall. 
As  in  concluding  this  address  I  repeat  his  words, 
they  may  convey  to  us  the  spirit  of  submission  unto 
God  and  trust  in  Him  which  strengthened  this  peo- 
ple to  pass  through  the  furnace  of  calamity.  In 
subsequent  times  of  prosperity  and  safety,  these  sen- 
timents have  not  been  wholly  lost.  May  they  always 
prevail,  and  may  the  intelligence,  soberness  and  in- 
dustry of  our  people  render  them  fit  dwellers  in 
those  pleasant  places  chosen  more  than  two  hundred 
and  forty  years  ago  by  the  founders  of  our  beautiful 
town.  By  maintaining  these  principles  in  peace  and 
purity,  and  through  a  wise  and  constant  exercise  of 
that  public  spirit  which  characterized  our  fathers,  we 
will  show  how  greatly  we  prize  this  rich  inheritance, 
made  more  precious  by  the  refining  fire. 

Copy  of  historical  note  of  Rev.  Andrew  Eliot, 
V.D.M.  : 

—1779.— 

July  7th. — A  part  of  the  British  army,  consisting 
of  Britons,  Germans,  and  American  refugees,  under 
the  command  of  Major-General  Tryon,  and  Briga- 
dier-General Garth,  landed  in  this  town  from  a  fleet 
commanded  by  Sir  George  Collier. 

In  the  evening  and  night  of  the  same  day,  a  great 
part  of  the  buildings  in  the  town  plot  were  consumed 
by  said  troops. 


45 

July  8th. — In  the  morning,  the  meeting-house,  to- 
gether with  the  Church  of  England  building,  the 
court  house,  prison,  and  almost  all  the  principal 
buildings  in  the  society,  were  laid  in  ashes. 

Our  holy  and  our  beautiful  house,  where  our 
fathers  praised  Thee,  is  burnt  up  with  fire,  and  all 
our  pleasant  things  are  laid  waste. 

The  Lord  gave  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away. 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

All  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that 
love  God,  to  them  who  are  the  called  according  to 
His  purpose. 

Alleluia  ! 

The  Lord,  God,  Omnipotent,  reigneth.  Amen. 


POEM 


By    Rev.   JAMES    K.   LOMBARD 


UNQUOWA. 

''  Farewell  to  the  Old  !"  was  the  mariner's  song 

As  he  gave  his  adventurous  sail  to  the  breeze  ; 
''  Behind  lies  the  bondage  of  falsehood  and  wrong, 

Before  floats  the  vision  that  beckons  and  frees. 
Are  there  tears  for  the  old  ?  they  are  profitless  tears, 

It  hath  shown  neither  pity  nor  care  for  to-day; 
Lay  the  corpse,  dumb  and  cold,  in  the  grave  of  the  years, 

Mutter  "ashes  to  ashes,"  then  up  and  away  ! 
All  hail  to  the  New  !  to  the  land  of  our  quest, 

Though  its  welcome  be  bleak  and  its  hillsides  be  bare, 
'Tis  the  home  of  the  true,  the  broad  realm  of  the  West, 
Humanity's  promise  and  future  are  there." 

'Twas  the  watchword  that  lured  them,  faint  echoed  from  far 

And  they  bowed  to  its  spell  of  resistless  command, 
"  Unquowa  !  Go  further  !  your  beckoning  star 

At  last  o'er  the  cradle  of  freedom  shall  stand. 
Press  onward,  fresh  conquests  and  glories  to  find. 

New  homes  and  long  vistas  are  opening  to  view, 
Fairer  fields  are  before  you  than  aught  left  behind, 

"Behold!"  said  the  voice,  "I  make  all  things  anew." 

With  hearts  that  were  tender  and  brows  that  were  stern 

Our  sires  to  the  edge  of  the  wilderness  came, 
And  read,  as  discouragement  whispered  "  Return  !" 

"  Unquowa .'"  writ  over  in  letters  of  flame. 
They  followed  to  where  'twixt  the  hills  and  the  sea 

These  plains  in  their  vesture  of  emerald  lie ; 
'"''  No  further  r  they  cried,  "this  our  haven  shall  be. 

No  lovelier  field  is  o'erarched  by  the  sky." 
Note. —  Unquowa  is  the  Indian  name  of  Fairrteld,  meaning  "go  further. 


48 

Yet  but  for  a  moment, — the  wave  of  unrest 

With  scarce  a  surcease  rolled  impatient  along, 
And  still  as  it  swept  from  the  east  to  the  west, 

"  Go  further  ! "  the  endless  refrain  to  its  song. 
"  Out-do  all  the  deeds  by  humanity  done, 

Confound  the  old  world  with  dismay  and  surprise 
As  it  witnesses  something  new  under  the  sun, 

New  morals,  discoveries,  isms  and — lies. 
Where  others  have  climbed  write  your  name  above  theirs, 

Crowd  all  sail  to  the  breeze,  though  for  ballast  you  lack, 
The  favors  of  Fortune  he  merits  who  dares. 

And  the  motto  of  progress  is  "  Never  look  back  !" 

Some  good  he  has  wrought,  to  no  region  confined. 

Freedom's  heir,  of  a  century,  here  in  the  west, 
Some  blessing  has  brought  to  himself  and  mankind, 

Some  glories  achieved,  be  it  freely  confessed. 
Some  wisdom  moreover,  has  won,  dearly  earned 

At  the  price  of  disaster  and  costly  delays, 
And  this  not  the  least  from  experience  learned. 

True  progress  is  Janus-faced,  looking  two  ways. 
One  front  shining  fair  with  the  beauty  of  youth. 

Peering  forward  to  pierce  through  futurity's  vail. 
Decks  the  day-dreams  of  Hope  with  the  mantle  of  Truth 

And  listens  entranced  to  the  flatterer's  tale  ; 
The  other  looks  backward  with  calm  level  gaze, 

Adown  the  long  track  by  the  centuries  trod. 
Traces  out  the  great  plan  mid  the  devious  maze, 

And  hears  through  the  ages  the  voices  of  God. 

Strange  tissue  of  gold  and  of  sable  we  weave 

As  we  rest  'neath  the  broad  leafy  spaces  to-day  ! 

Old  legends  with  tales  of  the  hour  interleave 
And  dreaui  a  long  century  quickly  away. 


49 

Is  it  well  from  the  glare  of  the  noontide  to  turn 

And  awhile  in  some  black,  frowning  shadow  to  dwells 
The  lesson  sublime  of  endurance  to  learn, 

The  cost  of  our  heritage, — say,  is  it  well  ? 
If  patience  no  less  than  achievement  is  grand, 

If  the  soil  bearing  heroes  is  watered  by  tears. 
Time  itself  but  a  speck  by  eternity  spanned. 

Is  not  this  a  proud  day  in  the  cycle  of  years  ? 

What  wait  ye,  dear  friends,  as  in  silence  ye  sit 

With  the  light  and  the  shade  interwoven  around, 
O'er  your  vision  what  phantoms  of  memory  flit. 

What  voice  from  the  fire,  speaks  of  blood-hallowed  ground  ? 
There's  a  guest  whom  ye  see  not,  among  you  to-day, 

His  hand  is  in  yours  as  he  stands  at  your  door. 
With  the  dead  generations  he  wandered  away. 

And  now  he  returns  to  your  hearth-stones  once  more. 
For  him  ye  have  gathered  with  welcome  and  cheer. 

For  him  thus  your  bountiful  table  have  spread, 
His  soul-stirring  words  ye  are  waiting  to  hear, 

To-day  ye  converse  and  commune  with  the  dead. 
With  the  dead  !  nay,  the  livi?ig,  they  walk  here  again 

As   they  wandered  of  yore   through  the   ghost-haunted 
streets, 
Awakened  the  dust  which  in  slumber  had  lain, 

Sire  to  son  still  the  sorrowful  story  repeats. 
Men  may  die  to  the  thought  of  their  kindred  and  age, 

Their  names  be  forgot  by  their  wonted  abode. 
But  they  who  the  fight  for  humanity  wage 

Ever  live  to  a  generous  fame  and  to  God. 

For  him  ye  are  waiting,  the  soul  of  the  past. 

The  spirit  who  dwelt  in  the  woods  and  the  waves, 

Gently  sighed  in  the  breeze,  wildly  sobbed  in  the  blast, 
And  knelt  by  our  forefathers'  cradles  and  graves ; 


50 

Who  led  them  to  where  in  his  desperate  flight 

A  merciless  foe  in  the  swamp  stood  at  bay, 
Nerved  their  hearts  for  the  onset,  their  arms  for  the  fight, 

And  swept  the  last  hope  of  the  Pequod  away. 
Who  first  on  that  day  to  their  wondering  eyes 

This  glorious  vision  of  beauty  revealed, 
Where  the  plain  and  the  sea  meet  and  blend  with  the  skies. 

And  our  sires  hailed  in  rapture  their  new-found  Fairfield, 

Theirs  the  spirit  that  tyranny  fearlessly  braves, 

In  the  might  of  Omnipotence  battles  with  wrong, 
Spurns  the  peace  that  is  won  by  the  trappings  of  slaves, 

By  disaster  grows  great,  and  by  suffering,  strong. 
That  spirit  they  drank  in  the  breath  of  the  bay 

As  with  fragrance  and  healing  it  passed  on  the  breeze, 
Its  coolness  they  caught  from  the  dash  of  the  spray, 

Its  statue  erect  from  the  hills  and  the  trees ; 
Its  rhythmical  tones  in  the  wavelets  they  heard 

That  crept  up  enamored  to  fondle  the  shore, 
With  its  dauntless  defiance  their  spirits  were  stirred, 

In  the  growl  of  the  surf  and  the  breakers'  dull  roar. 

That  dim  Presence  is  here  ;  Time  returns  on  its  track. 

Our  hearts  feel  the  spell  of  a  mystical  power, 
On  the  dial  of  years  the  grim  shadow,  turned  back, 

Points  again  to  the  pitiful  day  and  the  hour  ; 
Day  whose  cloud-curtained  morn  broke  with  ominous  light 

As  the  sun  faintly  streamed  through  the  fog-laden  air. 
When  the  pillar  of  flame  lit  the  blackness  of  night, 

And  the  dawning  of  doubt  brought  the  eve  of  despair 

On  the  errand  of  demons  with  torch  and  with  brand, 

Do  ye  spread  your  white  wings,  O  ye  birds  of  the  sea? 

Fair  as  angels  of  light  in  the  offing  ye  stand. 

Speed  away  with  the  breezes  that  blow  for  the  free  ! 


51 

They  have  passed  !  hid  from  sight  by  the  trend  of  the  shore, — 

Breathe  a  sigh  of  relief,  lips  with  fear  that  were  dumb, 
Lift  the  voice  of  thanksgiving,  the  peril  is  o'er  ! — 

Hush  !  a  sound  in  the  distance  !  'tis  the  beat  of  the  drum  ! 
Faint  and  fitful,  then  louder  it  falls  on  the  ear, 

To  the  hills  !  for  your  lives,  if  your  lives  ye  would  save  ! 
The  fiend  of  destruction  and  carnage  is  near, 

Of  a  pitiless  foe  vainly  mercy  ye  crave. 
Leave  your  hearth-stones  and  roofs  to  the  conqueror's  ire, 

The  sacrifice  yield  to  fair  Freedom's  demand. 
To-day  ye  pass  through  the  baptism  of  fire 

And  leave  to  your  children  a  heritage  grand. 

Up  the  lane  from  the  beach  comes  the  trampling  of  feet. 

With  the  rattle  of  drums  and  with  bayonets'  sheen. 
Red-coated  marauders  are  thronging  the  street 

And  crowding,  with  insolent  menace,  the  green. 
""  Halt !"  the  order  is  heard  and  the  uproar  is  still; 

"  Break  your  ranks  !"  then  in  groups  the  invaders  disperse 
Of  lust  and  of  plunder  to  gather  their  fill, 

While  the  heavens  grow  black  with  a  low-muttered  curse. 

Draw  the  curtain  of  night,  thou  kind  angel  of  doom 

O'er  the  deeds  that  men  dare  but  that  lips  may  not  tell, 
Yet  with  flashes  of  light  half  disclose  through  the  gloom 

To  the  awe-stricken  gazer,  the  image  of  hell. 
The  flames  streaming  wildly  from  roof  and  from  spire, 

The  cinders  whirled  upward,  the  storm-spirit's  wail, 
The  jubilant  dance  of  the  demon  of  fire 

Mid  the  thunder's  long  roll  and  the  roar  of  the  gale. 

Yet  not  unresisting  the  patriots  fly, — 

Ere  the  foe's  haughty  challenge  submission  to  yield. 
From  the  fort  on  the  hill  comes  an  iron  reply, 


52 

And  the  shot  of  the  skirmisher  rattles  afield. 
Pursuer  uplifting  the  murderous  hand 

Follows  close  on  the  fugitive's  hurried  retreat, 
Then  his  riderless  steed  at  the  captor's  command 

Comes  to  halt,  as  the  trooper  falls  dead  at  his  feet. 
They  are  scores  against  thousands, — the  contest  is  vain, 

Yet  hereafter  the  visitor,  gazing  around, 
Shall  say,  "  On  this  sod  ran  the  blood  of  the  slain, 

Here  the  battle  of  freedom  with  triumph  was  crowned." 

The  black  deed  is  done  ;   view  your  work  with  delight, 

Who  have  written  in  ashes  your  passport  to  fame, 
In  the  red,  lurid  glare  of  that  horrible  night 

Emblazoning  Tryon's  illustrious  name. 
These  desolate  homes,  these  dull  embers  that  lie 

Where  the  temples  of  God  once  were  fair  to  the  sight, 
Like  the  blood  of  the  martyr  for  justice  shall  cry, 

And  the  Power  ye  have  slighted  shall  hear  and  requite. 

But  lo  !  the  dark  vision  dissolves  from  the  view ! 

The  current  of  years  rolling  swiftly  away 
In  the  room  of  the  old  brings  the  beautiful  new 

That  greets  us  with  smiling  contentment  to-day. 
A  benison  thine,  hallowed  shrine  of  the  past, 

On  the  cloud  of  thy  morn  rest  the  rainbow  of  peace  ! 
To  far  generations  thy  memories  last, 

And  age  bring  of  honors  an  endless  increase. 
Gaze  not  on  the  present  with  idle  content, 

Thine   the   watchword  of  Progress,   "  Go  further !    soar 
higher  !" 
Dwell  not  in  the  pride  of  a  noble  descent. 

True  nobleness  blazons  its  legend,  "  Aspire  !" 

Old  mansions  that  stand  as  ye  stood  in  that  day 

When  scathless  ye  passed  through  the  midst  of  the  flame. 


53 

This  hour  ye  hold  court  in  your  stately  array 

While  we  wreathe    your  gray  fronts  with   the   laurel   of 
fame. 

Ruthless  hand  of  the  spoiler  preserve  their  renown, 
From  restless  improvement  these  monuments  spare, 

Let  them  pass  the  old  tales  to  posterity  down 
And  Time  make  the  trust  his  perpetual  care. 

Sacred  dust  of  our  forefathers,  slumber  in  peace  ! 

Your  graves  be  the  shrine  to  which  patriots  wend 
And  swear  tireless  vigilance  never  to  cease 

Till  freedom's  long  struggle  with  tyranny  end. 
The  triumph  they  won  be  it  ours  to  maintain, 

Lest  from  dreams  of  security  mockingly  torn, 
The  captive,  too  late,  strive  to  rend  off  his  chain, 

The  giant  awake,  of  his  manliness  shorn.      ' 

The  old  feud  is  ended !  embracing  once  more, 

The  sons  of  one  mother,  in  amity  true, 
With  a  cable  of  steel  binding  shore  unto  shore. 

Hail  as  one,  and  forever,  Old  England  and  New ! 
Run  up  the  twin  flags  with  the  cross  and  the  stars, 

One  in  race,  one  in  speech,  one  in  faith,  one  in  heart, 
Wed  the  crimson  and  azure,  the  stripes  and  the  bars. 

Whom  God  hath  thus  joined  let  not  man  rend  apart. 
In  glorious  rivalry  lead  the  oppressed, 

Flags  of  union  and  liberty  proudly  unfurled, 
Together  float  on  o'er  the  East  and  the  West 

And  march  with  the  drum-beat  that  circles  the  world ! 


II —NOON —Intermission. 


At  the  close  of  the  morning  proceedings,  the 
President  announced  that  luncheon  had  been  pro- 
vided for  the  guests,  and  it  was  probable  that 
although  the  people  were  so  many,  all  would  find 
themselves  provided  for.  The  intention  had  been 
to  have  all  the  tables  set  in  the  grove  in  rear  of 
the  Conorreo^ationalist  Church,  but  the  rain  had  led 
the  Committee  to  begin  the  task  of  removing  them 
under  cover,  a  task  in  which  they  had  only  in  part  suc- 
ceeded. Accordingly  the  Governor,  the  OfTficers,  the 
Clergy,  the  Press,  the  Mayor  and  Common  Council 
of  Bridgeport,  were  asked  to  go  to  the  upper  hall  of 
the  Town  House  ;  other  invited  Quests  would  find 
accommodation  in  the  lower  hall  ;  mothers  with 
children  would  be  welcome  by  Miss  Hobart  in  her 
old  historical  mansion,  and  ample  room  would  be 
found  for  all  beside  in  the  fine  erove  behind  the 
church,  where  the  whole  company  were  to  have 
been  entertained. 

The  arrangements  were  carried  out  successfully. 
The  Governor  was  introduced  by  Dr.  Osgood  to 
the  ladies  in  charore  of  the  tables  at  the  Town 
House.  Rev.  Edward  H.  Wells  said  ofrace,  and 
the  scene  was  as  pleasing  to  the  eyes  as  whole- 
some to  the  inner  man. 


56 


III-AFTERNOON, 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.    SAMUEL    OSGOOD, 
PRESIDENT  OF  THE   DAY. 


THE  TOWN— ITS    SCENERY— ITS    HISTORY  AND    HOPES. 


Fellow-citizens,  Neighbors  and  Friends  : 

The  exercises  of  this  morning  have  set  before  you 
the  grave  historical  and  literary  aspects  of  this  day, 
and  it  is  not  for  me  to  dispute  with  your  orator  and 
poet  the  honors  which  they  have  so  well  won  and 
now  so  modestly  wear.  This  is  a  social  meeting, 
and  we  come  together  now  to  talk  over  in  a  sympa- 
thetic way  the  topics  of  this  place  and  this  day.  It 
is  delightful  to  be  assured  that  we  are  all  as  one  here 
now — all  Americans,  with  one  heart  for  the  nation 
and  the  flag,  and  ready  to  welcome  all  of  our  coun- 
trymen to  our  hospitality,  and  to  wish  all  men  God 
speed  in  their  striving  for  justice,  liberty  and  human- 
ity. 

Let  us  begin  at  the  beginning  and  allow  the  fair 
face  of  this  charming  old  town,  so  old,  yet  ever  young 
and  lovely,  to  win  us  all  to  itself  and  to  each  other. 
There  is  no  influence  that  does  away  differences  and 


57 

assimilates  various  minds  and  tempers  more  than 
beauty.  We  dispute  about  truth,  but  we  feel  the 
charm  of  beauty  and  here  this  speaks  to  us  in  a 
master-piece  of  God's  own  handiwork  as  it  spoke 
to  our  fathers  who  came  here  a  quarter  of  a  thousand 
years  ago.  Look  for  yourselves  and  the  look  will 
move  you  all  with  love  and  gratitude.  Around  us 
see  this  pleasant  plain  with  its  fair  and  thrifty  homes, 
its  bright  gardens  and  broad  meadows,  its  refreshing 
groves  and  its  soaring  spires.  In  front  there  is  the 
great  Sound  with  the  variety  and  flow  of  a  river  and 
the  stately  majesty  of  the  sea,  bearing  sprightly  boats 
and  stout  vessels  upon  its  bosom,  sweeping  afar  to 
Long  Island,  itself  a  little  empire,  and  swelling  here 
towards  us  against  our  lovely  crescent  shore  as  full 
of  attraction  as  of  health,  and  at  the  ends  of  the 
crescent  beach  beyond  goodly  hills,  filling  welcome 
harbors  with  its  tide.  Turn  from  all  this  rich  land- 
scape and  the  back  ground  is  no  less  pleasing  and 
remarkably  suited  to  the  foreground.  There  are  no 
grand  mountains,  but  sightly  hills,  rising  in  memora- 
ble gradations,  invite  the  eye  and  the  footsteps,  and 
offer  from  their  various  points  of  view  as  delightful 
prospects  as  those  that  have  made  the  name  and  the 
fortune  of  many  of  the  famous  places  on  earth.  This 
is  our  town,  our  Fairfield,  and  as  we  look,  we  feel 
one  pulse  beating  along  the  two  and  a  half  centuries, 
and  uniting  us  with  the  stout  men  and  devoted  women 
who  first  called  this  land  by  its  present  name,  and 
declared  it  fair  to  all  time  as  we  do  now. 


58 

May  we  not  call  this  a  bridal  day  for  our  lovely 
village,  not  a  first  wedding,  nor  a  silver,  nor  a  golden, 
nor  a  diamond  wedding.  What  shall  we  call  it,  this 
commemoration,  not  after  twenty-five,  or  fifty,  or 
seventy-five  years  ;  but  after  a  hundred  years  ?  Why 
not  call  it  the  celestial  wedding,  now  that  this  town 
renewed  in  beauty  and  with  forgiveness  of  her  ene- 
mies, stands  forth  again  in  her  family  and  asks  heav- 
en's blessing.  A  hundred  years  ago  she  was  wedded 
to  Freedom  in  sorrow  and  tears  with  a  veil  of  dark- 
ness. These  clouds  in  the  morning  seemed  to  put 
that  veil  again  upon  her  brow,  but  here  the  darkness 
is  vanishing  under  the  touch  of  God's  own  sunshine. 
See  her  face  now  in  the  full  light  of  day,  never  fairer 
than  now.  This  is  the  celestial  wedding  of  the  dear 
old  town. 

Turn  now  from  the  face  of  nature  to  the  field 
of  history,  and  there,  too,  there  is  much  to  command 
our  respect,  and  to  win  our  sympathy.  This  town 
has  been  memorable  for  its  learned  and  patriotic 
men  from  the  beginning,  and  we  may  judge  well  of 
what  the  people  at  large  were  from  the  character 
of  the  persons  whom  they  produced  or  sought  out 
and  honored.  Bancroft  speaks  of  Fairfield  when 
it  was  burned,  as  a  model  New  England  village,  and 
certainly  before  and  since  that  time  her  citizens 
have  made  their  mark,  not  only  upon  this  neigh- 
borhood, but  upon  the  country  and  the  world.  It 
is  worth  remembering  that  five  scholars  who  have 
been  connected  with    Fairfield    parishes    have    been 


59 

called  to  be  presidents  of  distinguished  American 
colleges,  and  others  have  been  appointed  to  im- 
portant professorships,  where  they  have  won  high 
honors  and  done  good  and  even  great  work.  We 
have  had  our  share  of  soldiers,  statesmen  and  jurists, 
and  in  the  late  war  for  the  nation,  our  people 
have  proved  their  patriotism  by  sending  their  pro- 
portion of  money  and  men  to  stand  by  the  fiag 
against  its  assailants.  We  have  had  merchants,  too, 
who  have  done  us  honor,  by  making  wealth  the 
means  of  beneficence  instead  of  the  measure  of 
pride,  and  who  have  raised  at  Yale,  Princeton  and 
New  York  institutions  of  learning,  taste,  piety  and 
charity  that  not  only  bless  those  communities,  but 
consecrate  the  soil,  home  and  blood  that  bore  them. 
Good  teachers  we  have  had  who  have  won  worthy 
scholars  to  their  instruction,  and  here  and  elsewhere 
given  good  proof  that  the  schoolmaster  is  still  abroad. 
Honor  to  those  of  them  who  filially  remember  this 
mother  town,  and  whose  faces  and  good  works  we 
see  to  day.  The  churches  have  not  been  backward 
in  their  work,  and  here  to-day  the  pastor  of  the  Prime 
Ancient  Parish  unites  with  the  Rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  in  presence  of  brethren  of  various  Christian 
names,  and  on  this  occasion  repeats  the  old  benedic- 
tion, "  Grace  be  to  all  of  them  who  love  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity." 

So  history  answers  with  her  voice  to  the  face  of  na- 
ture, and  both  call  us  together  in  common  fellowship 
to-day.    What  more  shall  I  say,  or  is  this  enough  with- 


6o 

out  touching  upon  the  painful  associations  of  this  com- 
memoration ?  No  !  Let  us  speak  out  and  have  the 
whole  heart  of  the  time  with  us,  not  doubting  that 
in  this  as  in  all  other  historical  events,  the  shading  is 
needed  to  bring  out  the  light,  and  we  must  bear  the 
cross,  if  we  would  wear  the  crown.  Beauty  is  said  to 
be  a  fatal  gift,  and  however  this  may  be  as  a  general 
truth,  it  is  quite  sure  that  this  fair  town  has  had  its 
share  in  the  interpretation.  The  loveliness  of  this 
place  had  probably  something  to  do  with  attracting 
its  destroyers.  Like  old  Jerusalem  this  sweet  little 
Zion  was  assailed  and  destroyed,  and  in  all  the  bright- 
ness of  her  restored  beauty  we  see  the  traces  of  that 
sadness,  and  a  certain  pathos  shades  the  bloom  of 
her  cheek  and  moistens  the  light  of  her  eyes.  We 
may  as  well  own  it,  that  a  certain  disappointment  has 
gone  with  this  town.  Since  that  act,  not  of  war,  but 
of  barbarism,  that  destroyed  the  houses  and  stores 
and  churches  of  this  unarmed  place,  the  best  hopes 
of  its  prosperity  have  never  been  fulfilled.  It  was 
once  as  thrifty  and  ambitious  as  New  Haven,  and  as 
likely  from  its  wealth  and  culture  and  situation  to  be 
a  great  university  town,  but  New  Haven  carried  the 
day,  and  our  chief  marshal  and  his  associates  prove 
their  mind  and  their  muscle  there  under  the  elms  of 
College  Green  instead  of  finding  academic  halls  here 
under  the  brow  of  Greenfield  hill.  It  is  hard  to  be- 
lieve it,  but  it  is  true  that  the  men  of  Fairfield,  under 
stout  Roger  Ludlow,  thought  of  punishing  the  Dutch 
settlement  of  New  Amsterdam,  and  rated  Fairfield 


6i 

as  the  equal  of  the  future  New  York  in  prosperity. 
But  New  York  has  beat  us,  and  here  to-day  her  news- 
paper press  may  be  learning  for  the  first  time  what 
great  expectations  were  once  cherished  in  this  quiet 
place.  We  must  confess  it.  We  have  been  cut  out 
by  neighbors  far  and  near  Bridgeport  was  the  last 
to  get  the  better  of  us,  and  after  taking  our  fine 
harbor  of  Black  Rock  she  is  waitina  for  our  timid 
people  to  ask  her  to  take  all  the  rest  of  the  town 
under  her  wing,  and  perhaps  has  sent  her  police  to- 
day to  spy  out  the  riches  of  our  domain. 

Yes,  we  have  been  disappointed,  but  we  are  not  cast 
down  nor  in  despair.  Our  town  probably  never  felt 
her  dignity  more  than  to-day;  never  was  so  happy  in  her 
people  and  her  guests.  Never  has  the  scenery  looked 
fairer  than  now,  and  we  mean  to  add  careful  science 
to  choice  tastes  in  bringing  health  with  beauty  to 
crown  our  prosperous  hours.  The  marshes  shall  be 
drained,  all  unwholesome  elements  shall  be  checked 
or  removed,  our  roads  shall  be  extended  and  improv- 
ed. The  groves  shall  again  adorn  and  refresh  our  hills, 
our  shores  shall  be  opened  to  travel,  and  a  charming 
water  side  avenue  shall  join  Sea  Side  Park  to  Sasco  hill, 
and  win  admiration  and  company  from  hosts  of  resi- 
dents and  visitors  as  to  one  of  the  choice  attractions 
of  the  land. 

Our  libraries  shall  increase,  our  schools  and  churches 
shall  prosper.  The  new  population  will  do  their  part 
and  are  doing  it  by  industry,  thrift,  sobriety  and  rev- 
erence, and  the  laboring  class  are  setting  a  good  ex- 


62 

ample  by  earning  homes  and  lands  for  themselves, 
sending  their  children  to  school,  and  attending  church 
with  a  constancy  and  zeal  that  may  well  be  a  lesson 
to  some  persons  who  are  tempted  to  look  down  upon 
them.  We  have  no  destructive  socialism  here,  and 
the  laborer  who  owns  his  cottage  and  acre  is  as  far 
from  the  tramp  or  the  anarchist  as  the  merchant  in 
his  mansion  with  his  servants  and  horses  and  broad 
fields  and  fine  lawns. 

(^  We  mean  to  remember  the  old  days  and  worthies, 
and  restore  whatever  has  been  lost,  by  careful  record 

\  and  faithful  service.  We  do  not  expect  great  increase 
or  startling  prosperity,  yet  we  have  good  expectations. 
These  lovely  hills  must  some  day  win  residents  and 
homes,  and  on  either  side,  population  must  flow  from 
the  commercial  and  manufacturing  cities  to  add  to 
our  numbers  and  to  help  us  in  our  taste  and  aspiration. 
Especially  do  we  insist  upon  keeping  up  the  great 
heart  that  founded  and  has  enobled  this  place  and  upon 
measuring  life  by  itself  and  not  by  material  things, 
caring  more  for  the  soul  than  the  body,  and  finding 
the  eternal  spirit  in  all  that  is  good,  true  and  fair. 

In  this  faith  let  us  interpret  the  history  and  cheer 
the  prospect  of  our  town,  remembering  sacredly  that 
the  influence  of  the  outrage  upon  our  people  here, 
and  their  great  suffering,  did  much  to  nerve  the  whole 
country  in  the  final  struggle  for  liberty,  and  not  for- 
getting that  the  service  to  culture  and  religion  which 
has  been  rendered  here  by  scholars,  jurists  and  theo- 
logians, has  given  this  quiet  village  a  place  in  history 


63 

beyond  that  which  is  held  by  many  a  field  of  battle 
with  its  memorial  of  cruelty.  The  town  was  burned 
but  not  destroyed.  It  lived  and  lives  now,  and  its 
record  is  part  of  the  history  of  the  nation.  In  a 
true  sense,  the  success  of  our  thrifty  neighbors  is  our 
success,  and  already  the  work  done  and  the  wealth 
won  and  the  thought  spoken  in  the  communities 
that  live  within  the  old  limits,  are  beyond  the  fondest 
dreams  of  the  ancient  founders  or  of  the  new  pat- 
riots of  a  hundred  years  ago.  As  a  summer  resident 
here  for  thirty  summers  of  health  and  privilege,  I 
give  thanks  with  you  in  the  favored  experience  and 
good  hope. 

Let  us  this  day  lift  up  our  banner  and  declare  our 
platform.  This  is  Fairfield,  this  is  Connecticut,  this 
is  New  E norland  and  we  are  Americans.  So  too  we 
are  men  and  we  give  and  take  the  great  blessing  of 
our  human  kind.  No  hate  now  to  England,  and  our 
united  flags  speak  the  blessings  of  the  child  to  the 
mother.  Would  that  some  great  English  men  of  the 
stamp  of  Arthur  P.  Stanley  and  William  E.  Glad- 
stone, who  have  been  such  noble  friends  to  us,  could 
answer  to  this  sentiment  here  and  make  the  English 
speaking  race  feel  its  brotherhood  of  liberty  and 
love  to-day. 

Even  broader  than  that  is  our  fellowship.  Fair- 
field says  here  her  own  name  in  benediction.  Fair- 
field let  there  be  everywhere  on  earth,  and  Fair  Play 
for  all  men,  by  justice,  liberty,  kindness    and   good 


64 

works  between  all  nations  in  the  brotherhood  of  the 
race  and  under  the  Providence  and  Grace  of  God. 

After  an  elaborate  piece  of  music  by  the  band, 
Dr.  Osgood  introduced  His  Excellency,  Governor 
Andrews,  with  expressing  his  great  pleasure  in  wel- 
coming the  chief  magistrate  of  Connecticut  alike 
from  respect  to  him  personally  and  from  reverence 
for  the  noble  line  of  Governors  that  had  presented 
such  famous  names  as  John  Winthrop,  the  Puritan 
statesman,  and  Jonathan  Trumbull,  the  friend  of 
Washington,  who  was  Governor  a  hundred  years 
ago. 

GOVERNOR  ANDREWS'  ADDRESS. 

In  the  name  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  whose 
servant  I  am,  I  greet  this  day.  Such  days  as  these 
should  be  commemorated  and  should  be  more  gen- 
erally observed.  Any  day  in  which  our  patriotism 
and  the  patriotism  of  the  younger  generations  may 
be  strengthened  should  receive  attention.  By  this,  I 
do  not  mean  to  infer  that  your  patriotism  is  deficient ; 
the  heartiness  of  this  commemorative  service  proves 
the  contrary.  I  come,  as  the  representative  of  the 
State,  to  give  character  to  this  duty  of  observing 
these  days  with  patriotic  devotion.  When  I  awoke 
this  morning  and  heard  the  rain  pattering  upon  the 
roof,  I  thought  if  General  Tryon  could  not  find  a 
better  day  than  this  to  burn  a  town,  he  had  better 
not  burn  it  at  all.      It  has  been   a  mystery  why    Sir 


65 

Henry  Clinton  sent  that  expedition  up  Long  Island 
sound  to  ravage  these  towns.  His  object,  it  seems 
to  me,  was  to  suppress  the  onslaught  made  upon  the 
supplies  which  he  sent  out  for  his  army.  The  orator 
of  this  morning  struck  the  right  key  to  its  solution 
when  he  said  Fairfield's  privateers  and  others  of  the 
coast  towns  cut  off  these  supplies.  But  the  object 
of  the  expedition  failed,  for  a  voice  of  horror  went 
up  from  the  whole  civilized  world  at  the  atrocities 
perpetrated,  so  that  he  failed  to  receive  the  benefits 
which  he  had  hoped  from  the  campaign,  and  the  re- 
capture of  Stony  Point  by  Mad  Anthony  Wayne 
soon  after,  was  in  some  sense  a  retribution  for  the 
burning  of  Fairfield.  But  I  did  not  intend  to  make 
a  speech.  I  desire  only  to  call  your  attention  to 
these  historic  facts.  I  come  to  represent  those  of 
the  state  who  are  not  here,  and  in  their  names  I  greet 
you,  and  bend  in  homage  toward  the  memory  of 
those  patriots  whose  names  we  honor  to-day. 

Dr.  Osgood  then  announced  that  a  telegram  had 
been  received  from  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  whom  all  Americans  honor  in  his  office,  and 
who  regretted  his  inability  to  be  present.  He  also 
read  a  telegram  from  George  William  Curtis,  ex- 
pressing his  regret  at  his  necessary  absence.  Many 
letters  from  distinguished  men,  such  as  Robert  C. 
Winthrop,  Bishop  Williams  and  President  Porter 
had  been  received,  and  would  be  published  in  the 
pamphlet  which  is  to  contain  the  proceedings  of  the 
day. 


66 
THE   CENTENNIAL   HYMN. 


BY    JOHN    G.   WHITTIER. 


Our  fathers'  God  !    from  out  whose  hand 
The  centuries  fall  like  grains  of   sand, 
We  meet  to-day,  united,  free, 
And  loyal  to  our  land  and  Thee, 
To  thank  Thee  for  the  era  done. 
And  trust  Thee  for  the  opening  one. 

Here  where  of  old,  by  Thy  design, 
The  fathers  spake  that  word  of  Thine, 
Whose  echo  is  the  glad  refrain 
Of  rended  bolt  and  falling  chain, 
To  grace  our  festal  time,  from  all 
The  zones  of  earth  our  guests  we  call. 

Be  with  us  while  the  New  World  greets 
The  Old   World,  thronging  all  its  streets, 
Unveiling  all  the  triumphs  won 
By  art  or  toil  beneath  the  sun; 
And  unto  common  good  ordain 
This  rivalship  of   hand  and  brain. 

Thou  who  hast  here  in  concord  furled 
The  war  flags  of  a  gathered  world, 
Beneath  our  western  skies  fulfill, 
The  Orient's  mission  of  good  will. 
And,  freighted  with  Love's  golden  fleece, 
Send  back  the  Argonauts  of  peace. 

For  art  and  labor  met  in  truce, 
For  beauty  made  the  bride  of  use. 
We  thank  Thee,  while  withal  we    crave 
The  austere  virtues  strong  to  save, 
The  honor  proof  to  place  or  gold, 
The  manhood  never  bought  nor  sold  ! 

Oh  !  make  Thou  us,  through  centuries  long. 
In  peace  secure,  and  justice  strong; 
Around  our  gift  of  freedom  draw 
The  safeguards  of  Thy  righteous  law, 
And,  cast  in  some  diviner  mould. 
Let  the  new  cycle  shame  the  old  ! 


6; 

Dr.  Osgood  then  spoke  of  Rev.  Augustus  F. 
Hewit,  D.D.,  as  a  distinguished  scholar  and  preacher 
whom  Amherst  College,  his  alma  mater,  had  con- 
spicuously honored,  and  who  was  a  native  of  Fairfield, 
and  son  of  an  eminent  pastor  here.  He  regretted 
that  Dr.  Hewit  could  not  fulfill  the  hope  which  his 
pleasant  letter  in  reply  to  the  invitation  to  speak  had 
given.  The  Rev.  Dr.  E.  P.  Rogers,  of  New  York, 
a  former  resident  and  always  welcome  guest,  was 
next  called  upon,  and  he  responded  in  some  very 
pleasant  remarks  and  reminiscences. 

He  began  his  address  by  relating  the  story  of  an 
old  minister  who  always  had  one  formula  to  open  all 
his  sermons.  This  was,  after  announcing  the  text,  to 
say,  "  My  subject  naturally  divides  itself  into  three 
parts."  Taking  as  his  text  one  time,  "Adam,  where 
art  thou,"  he  divided  it  as  follows  :  "  Man  is  generally 
somewhere  ;  he  is  usually  where  he  had  no  business 
to  be  ;  and  thirdly,  if  he  did  not  look  out  he  would 
find  himself  where  he  would  not  want  to  be."  He 
had  found  himself  where  he  did  not  want  to  be, 
called  upon  to  make  a  speech.  He  spoke  touchingly 
of  his  early  residence  in  the  town,  of  the  impressions 
which  he  had  received  in  his  youth,  of  the  old  church, 
the  old  academy,  the  noble  history,  and  the  hallowed 
associations  which  clustered  about  the  old  town.  He 
recalled  the  great  advance  that  had  been  made  during 
the  past  one  hundred  years,  in  everything  that  exalts 
and  educates  a  people,  and  said  he  was  thankful 
to  be  present  as  one  of  the  old  Fairfield  boys,  and 


68 

tender  his  congratulations  to  the  ten  thousand 
friends  around  him  upon  the  history  of  the  town. 
He  closed  with  a  strong  appeal  for  protection  and 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  liberty  and  human  rights, 
adding,  "  May  God  bless  this  town  forever,  and  may 
the  principles  of  Its  fathers,  be  the  principles  of  their 
children." 

Stirring  music  was  then  given  by  the  band,  after 
which  Dr.  Osgood  introduced  the  Rev.  Horatio  N. 
Powers,  D.  D.,  of  Bridgeport,  as  the  next  speaker,  and 
upon  a  topic  congenial  with  him  as  the  friend  of  Bry- 
ant, and  the  author  of  successful  books  of  thought  and 
sentiment  in  prose  and  poetry.  It  is  to  be  hoped  he 
said,  that  orood  would  come  from  urelnof  the  Im- 
provement  of  country  towns,  and  that  a  new  and 
charming  avenue  may  be  opened  along  our  shore 
from  Sea  Side  Park  to  Sasco  Hill. 

DR.   POWERS  ON   PUBLIC   SPIRIT   IN   OLD   RURAL   TOWNS. 

A  genuine  public  spirit  is  as  desirable  and  becom- 
ing in  old  country  towns  as  In  more  populous  com- 
munities, and  one  expression  of  it  is  a  cultivated 
taste  that  concerns  itself  In  the  appropriate  orna- 
mentation of  a  place.  Philip  Gilbert  Hamerton, 
that  accomplished  Englishman  to  whom  the  art  of 
the  present  in  both  hemispheres  is  so  much  indebted, 
reports  a  curious  but  actual  conversation  that  he  had 
once  while  engaged  In  sketching  In  a  wild  region  in 
Scotland  with  a  British  nobleman,  who  was  there  fish- 
ing for  trout.  His  lordship  who  was  a  pious  person, 
expressed  his  utter  contempt  for  all  art  as  sinful  folly, 


69 

and  his  belief  that  those  who  encrao-ed  in  such  vani- 

o     o 

ties  were  in  danger  of  Hell  fire.  "  Hell  is  real,  sir," 
he  exclaimed,  "there  it  is  gaping  before  us."  This 
anxious  nobleman  finished  his  edifying  exhortation 
to  the  artist  by  singing  an  air  from  the  opera  of  the 
Traviata  and  taking  a  good  drink  of  whiskey.  The 
same  kind  of  consisteitcy  has  sometimes  been  observed 
among  our  own  people  in  days  gone  by.  New 
England  has  produced  persons, —  I  suppose  the 
race  is  dying  out — who  could  manage  to  tolerate  for 
a  few  days  flowers  on  apple  trees — (I  don't  know 
whether  they  could  detect  the  odor  of  cider  in  the 
blossoms) — and  flowers  on  the  clover  and  the  potato 
vines,  and  possibly  a  few  sunflowers  with  a  view  to 
the  seed,  but  who  would  have  no  such  trifles  as  flow- 
ers about  the  house  for  ornament ;  indeed,  they 
gravely  doubted  the  piety  of  any  who  took  a  real 
delight  in  such  things  as  roses  and  carnations. 

These  characters  would  give  abundant  attention  to 
the  cattle  pen,  but  precious  little  to  the  door-yard  ; 
they  admired  the  friskiness  of  young  lambs,  but  kept 
the  little  children  awfully  quiet.  Their  parlors  were 
not  particularly  inspiring  to  cheerfulness,  but  then 
they  were  seldom  open  except  for  funerals  !  I  do  not 
suppose  that  we  ought  to  infer  that  a  decadence  of 
religion  is  going  on  just  because  this  spirit  is  not 
peculiar  to  the  present  generation.  The  fact  is  we 
have  witnessed  a  great  improvement  in  the  ornamen- 
tation of  our  county  towns  in  the  last  two  or  three 
decades  which  is    as  creditable  to   the   character  of 


their  inhabitants,  as  it  is  to  their  advantage  in  many 
M'^ays.  I  am  not  advocating  the  use  of  ornament  to 
the  neglect  of  the  practical  economies.  To  pet  a 
curious  plant  and  neglect  a  household  duty  is  no 
compliment  to  the  aesthetic  spirit.  To  decorate  the 
piazza  and  leave  the  back-yard  a  maze  of  ugly  litter 
and  unwholesome  fixtures  is  as  repugnant  to  a  right 
moral  sense  as  to  good  taste.  Judicious  ornament 
can  and  should  go  along  with  industrial  improvement 
and  sanitary  precautions.  It  is  plain  that  the  more 
conspicuous  the  beauty  of  a  village,  other  things 
being  equal,  the  higher  it  will  stand  in  the  general 
esteem,  and  the  more  eagerly  it  will  be  sought  by 
those  who  long  for  rural  repose.  Wide  streets  with 
abundant  shade,  suitable  sidewalks,  an  open  gener- 
ous green  or  park,  tasty  dwellings  with  well-kept 
lawns  and  a  variety  of  shrubbery  and  flowers,  at- 
tractive school  houses  and  churches,  the  cemeteries 
properly  located  and  embellished,  good  drives  and 
good  drainage — all  these  are  important  features  of  a 
pleasant  and  prosperous  country  town,  and  should 
enlist  the  general  attention.  The  example  of  a  few 
energetic  citizens  like  the  distinguished  president  of 
this  occasion,  in  this  direction  will  have  a  wholesome 
effect  upon  the  public  mind.  I  am  acquainted  with 
no  place  that  illustrates  more  fully  what  good  taste 
can  do  than  the  village  of  Fairfield,  which  is  con- 
spicuous among  New  England  towns  for  its  rare  and 
engaging  beauty.  There  are  special  reasons,  it  is 
true,  why  it  should  be  superior  in  this  regard.      But 


71 

our  inland  towns,  however  remote,  will  find  it  to 
their  advantage  to  cultivate  their  rural  charms.  Some 
of  them  are  already  reaping  the  rewards  of  such  com- 
mendable endeavor.  Beauty  has  a  powerful  and 
gracious  ministry,  and  no  utilities  of  industry  need 
be  dwarfed  or  paralyzed  by  its  presence. 

One  of  the  most  encouraging  evidences  of  an  en- 
lightened public  spirit  in  a  country  town,  is  a  due 
regard  to  its  sanitary  interests  ;  but  I  must  leave  this 
point  with  the  simple  assertion  of  their  vast  impor- 
tance— an  importance  which  is  assuming  something 
like  its  proper  proportions  in  the  minds  of  educated 
citizens. 

Another  expression  of  this  desirable  public  spirit 
is  an  active,  social  element.  The  days  of  husking 
and  apple-paring  bees,  quiltings  and  old-fashioned 
sinofingf  schools  are  about  over.  Sittino-  around  the 
bar-room  stove  and  lounging  on  dry  goods  boxes  and 
grocery  counters,  is  hardly  to  be  accepted  as  proof  of 
eminent  enterprise  or  sociability.  Where  good  books 
are  read,  where  schools  are  influential,  where  religion 
is  more  than  a  mechanical  routine,  there  will  be  a 
tendency  among  the  people  towards  intercommunion. 
Conversation  will  be  something  more  than  twaddle 
and  gossip.  There  will  be  neighborly  kindness,  an 
interest  in  the  higher  questions  of  life,  sympathies 
that  bring  citizens  into  pleasant  and  helpful  inter- 
course. There  is  danger  in  our  country  towns,  that 
this  cordial  social  spirit  be  allowed  to  languish,  or 
rather,    that    it    fail    to    have    adequate   expression. 


72 

There  is  often  a  great  deal  of  kind  feeling,  hearty 
good  will  among  people  that  is  not  sufficiently 
demonstrative.  Visiting  should  be  kept  up  among 
neighbors.  Practical  benevolence  should  be  culti- 
vated. Social  gatherings  should  be  encouraged,  and 
intellectual  and  spiritual  interests  should  be  suppor- 
ted by  the  contact  of  mind  with  mind  and  heart  with 
heart.  People  don't  know  how  rich  their  stores  of 
enjoyment  and  improvement  are  until  they  get  into 
intimate  relations. 

Finally,  every  town  almost  has  a  history  which  the 
pride  of  its  inhabitants  ought  to  keep  in  lively  remem- 
brance. There  are  enough  who  will  preserve  the  tra- 
ditions of  horrors  and  follies,  comic  extravagances,  ill- 
odored  scandal.  But  the  men  who  have  Pfone  forth  to 
act  noble  parts  in  life  should  not  be  forgotten.  The 
significance  of  important  local  events  should  be  per- 
petuated. That  is  a  sad  state  of  the  popular  mind 
where  there  is  no  spirit  that  appreciates  and  honors 
what  is  creditable  and  venerable  in  the  annals  of 
the  town.  Suitable  commemorations  tend  to  keep 
alive  in  the  common  heart  a  sense  of  obliofation  to 
the  past ;  they  stimulate  the  best  mind  of  the  present 
with  examples  of  noble  citizenship  and  foster  the 
reverence  that  should  be  paid  to  the  illustrious  dead, 
This  phrase  of  public  spirit  cannot  be  too  much  com- 
mended. For  one  I  heartily  rejoice  in  such  a  becom- 
ing and  inspiring  illustration  of  it  as  that  which 
signalizes  this  occasion.  May  Fairfield  forever  be  an 
example  of  what  a  rural  town  ought  to  be. 


1Z 

After  Hail  Columbia  by  the  band,  the  President 
referred  to  the  welcome  presence  of  our  own  towns- 
people from  Greenfield  and  Southport,  and  called 
upon  Rev.  Edward  H.  Wells  of  Southport,  whose 
delicate  health  did  not  allow  him  to  speak  at  length. 

Remarks  of  Rev.  Edward  H.  Wells  : 

He  spoke  for  Southport  and  for  good  neighbor- 
hood, also  for  the  whole  Union.  He  rejoiced  he 
said,  with  Gov.  Hampton,  whom  he  had  heard  say  he 
"was  glad  that  the  war  of  1861  turned  out  as  it  did  ; 
that  the  Union  ought  never  to  have  been  touched." 
This  occasion  he  said  was  a  national  one,  and  he,  a 
southerner,  rejoiced  with  the  people  of  Fairfield.  He 
was  proud  of  Connecticut,  and  there  was  not  a  state 
in  the  Union  but  what  had  felt  its  power  and  influ- 
ence. He  quoted  the  late  John  C.  Calhoun,  as  say- 
ing he  owed  to  New  England  all  the  might  and  power 
he  possessed.  He  hoped  that  the  people  of  the 
north  and  of  the  south  would  present  such  a  solid 
front  for  the  perpetuity  of  the  Union  that  no  hand 
would  dare  to  again  assail  its  flag  or  tamper  with  its 
constitution.  "  God  bless  you  all  here  to-day,  God 
bless  Connecticut,  God  bless  my  Country." 

After  this  "  Columbia  the  Gem  of  the  Ocean  " 
was  sung  by  the  united  Choirs. 

Then  Dr.  Osgood  said  that  the  next  speaker  had 
been  brought  by  express,  a  fifteen  hours  journey  to 
meet  this  occasion,  and  alike  as  an  old  Fairfield  resi- 
dent and  representative,  and  as  a  typical  American, 
he  belonged  here  now.      It  had  been  his  task  to  give 


74 

our  people  innocent  recreation — to  make  Americans 
laugh  without  being  foolish.  His  motto  had  been 
"laugh  and  be  wise"  by  amusement  without  impro- 
priety or  excess.  He  had  reason  to  thank  Mr.  Bar- 
num  for  the  finest  music  he  had  ever  had,  and  for 
allowing  the  American  people  to  hear  Jenny  Lind 
sing  "  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth."  Mr.  Bar- 
num  will  now  speak  upon  "  Self  control  essential  in 
a  Republic." 

MR.   BARNUM    ON    SELF    CONTROL    IN    REPUBLICS. 

Mr.  Barnum  said  he  supposed  he  should  have  to 
make  a  spread-eagle  speech,  but  he  thought  it  would 
be  hard  to  squeeze  the  eagle  into  five  minutes  ;  it 
generally  took  orators  an  hour  and  a  half. "  In  1844 
I  was  present  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  when  the  free- 
dom of  the  city  was  presented  to  Lord  John  Russell. 
His  lordship  in  the  course  of  his  reply  to  the  "  Ad- 
dress "-said,  "Great  Britain  clothes  America  and  I 
am  willing  that  America  should  continue  in  part  to 
feed  Great  Britain." 

In  those  days  we  imported  most  of  our  cloth  and 
other  manufactures  from  England.  But  if  Gen. 
Tryon  could  see  the  progress  which  we  have  made  as 
a  nation  in  one  hundred  years,  his  government  would 
hesitate  before  they  again  let  him  "  try  on  "  the  firing 
of  our  towns  and  cities.  The  World's  Fairs  of  Lon- 
don, Paris,  Vienna  and  Philadelphia  have  opened  the 
eyes  of  the  old  world.  We  supply  them  with  our 
agricultural  implements,  sewing  machines  and  watch- 
es, our  muslins  and  calicos  are  selling  in  Manchester, 


75 

and  our  cutlery  is  competing  in  Sheffield  with  the 
manufacturers  of  that  city.  Our  inventions  and 
"Yankee  Notions,"  are  spread  all  over  the  civilized 
world,  the  ocean  is  covered  with  ships  carrying  to 
Europe  our  grain,  beef,  horses,  cattle,  cheese,  and 
even  fresh  oysters,  lobsters,  peaches  and  melons. 

England,  which  for  scores  of  years  has  boasted 
of  her  high  bred  race  horses  sees  the  prizes  carried 
off  by  Mr.  Lorillard's  Parole — and  although  she  still 
sings  "  Britannia  rules  the  waves,"  and  glories  in  her 
annual  Oxford  and  Cambridge  boat  races,  Hanlan 
goes  across  the  water  and  with  his  scull  and  oars 
whips  them  all  out  of  their  boots.  England  sends 
her  "  walkist "  to  America  and  takes  the  "belt"  but 
scarcely  has  he  touched  the  British  shores  before  our 
American  Weston  triumphantly  captures  it  again. 

No  nation  on  earth  has  progressed  in  material  and 
other  respects  as  has  this  nation  since  the  beautiful 
town  of  Fairfield  was  burned  by  the  British  one 
hundred  years  ago  to-day.  ' 

No  nation  on  the  face  of  the  earth  to-day  is  so 
happy  and  prosperous  as  ours,  and  no  nation  pos- 
sesses the  same  elements  of  future  greatness — of 
peace  and  plenty. 

But  "  eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty,"  es- 
pecially under  a  Republican  government.  A  govern- 
ment of  the  people  by  the  people,  must  be  charac- 
terized by  honesty,  wisdom  and  justice.  The  wise 
man  truly  said  :  "  Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation." 
Rome  was  a  great  and  proud  Republic,  but  her 
wickedness  and  folly  brought  her  to  the  dust. 


76 

No  republic  can  live,  nor  had  ought  to  live,  whose 
laws  are  made  under  the  influence  of  hatred,  selfish- 
ness or  bad  whiskey.  The  rum  traffic  and  rum- 
drinking  habits  exercise  an  almost  omnipotent  power 
and  influence  over  our  political  elections.  This  giant 
evil  of  our  land  concentrates  and  combines  the  crim- 
inal and  vicious  classes,  and  delivers  the  government 
of  our  cities  into  their  hands.  Consequently  many 
members  of  city  "  Common  Councils,"  and  even  of 
Legislatures  and  of  Congress,  elected  by  the  vile 
votes  of  the  rum  power,  would  be  a  disgrace  to  a 
government  of  African  savages.  The  vot^s  of 
American  citizens  are  counted  and  not  weighed  ; 
the  ballot  of  the  poor  drunkard  in  the  ditch,  bought 
with  a  pint  of  whiskey,  counts  as  much  as  the  vote 
of  His  Excellency,  our  worthy  Governor,  hence  if 
we  would  live  as  a  Republic  we  must  reform,  re- 
fine and  elevate  the  poor  victims  of  the  rum  delu- 
sion. The  whole  essence  of  the  Gospel  and  the 
Christian  religion  consists  of  love  to  God  and  to 
man ;  and  on  these  two  commandments  our  Sa- 
viour said  hung  "  rt:// the  law  and  the  prophets."  As 
American  citizens  then,  if  we  would  guard  and  pre- 
serve our  liberties,  our  happiness  and  our  true  great- 
ness, we  miLst  work  for  public  good.  Not  only  our 
churches  and  schools  must  correctly  teach  total  ab- 
stinence from  all  that  intoxicates,  but  our  personal 
efforts  must  be  devoted  to  educating  the  people,  en- 
couraging them  to  honor  and  practice  labor,  to  deal 
with  each  other  as  brethren  of  one  great  family,  and 


to  instill  into  the  minds  of  the  rising  generation  the 
great  truth  that  the  human  bj^ain  (which  gives  us 
reason  and  distinguishes  us  from  the  brute  creation 
whose  instinct  only  guides  them)  must  be  kept  clear, 
and  tinmicddled,  if  we  aspire  to  be  a  great  noble  free 
people  governing  onrsehes.  Business  success  comes 
from  three  things,  industry,  perseverance,  and  a  clear 
intellect  to  lay  plans  and  to  execute  them.  To  pre- 
serve this  great  nation  we  must  continually  work  and 
act  and  do.  It  is  a  glorious  practice  to  celebrate  such 
days  as  this  and  our  national  birth-day,  for  it  keeps 
up  our  enthusiasm  for  self  government,  but  talk 
without  labor  will  set  the  nation  asleep  and  betray 
her  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  It  is  very  nice  to 
run  up  our  flags  and  bunting,  to  play  Hail  Columbia 
and  Yankee  Doodle,  but  to  make  our  liberties  and 
national  happiness  permanent,  Yankee  Doodle  is 
not  enough,  it  must  be  Yankee  DoodXe-do. 

The  band  then  played  the  old  Yankee  tune  with 
remarkable  spirit,  and  the  President  introduced  Pro- 
fessor Dwight,  of  Yale  College,  grandson  of  the 
celebrated  President  Dwight,  who  for  years  taught 
and  preached  in  Greenfield  Hill,  and  who  wrote  the 
poem  of  that  name. 

Professor  Dwight  sooke  in  substance  as  follows  : 
The  People,  said  he,  believed  in  self-government 
but  had  been  unable  to  exercise  it  or  he  should  not 
be  there  to  make  a  speech.  He  said  that  the  only 
two  poems  President  Dwight  had  written  were 
"  Greenfield  Hill"  and  the  "  Road  to  Canaan."  What- 


78 

ever  attribute  had  been  transmitted  to  the  speaker  it 
had  not  been  the  poetic.  The  speaker  said  he  had 
endeavored  in  his  humble  way  to  teach  men  that  they 
might  lead  men  to  Canaan.  An  able  New  Haven 
clergyman  once,  preaching  upon  the  character  of 
Peter,  remarked  that  he  received  his  remarkable 
energy  from  his  mother.  When  the  members  of  the 
congregation  returned  home  they  referred  to  their 
Bibles  and  found  that  Peter's  remarkable  energy  came 
from  his  wife's  mother,  and  so  he  had  come  and  had 
received  energy  to  make  a  speech  from  his  wife's 
mother,  a  very  pleasant  relation,  however. 

The  President  then  referred  to  the  close  relation 
existing  between  Fairfield  and  Green's  Farms,  once 
called  the  West  Parish  of  Fairfield,  and  sufferingr  with 
this  town  in  the  raid  of  Tryon.  Rev.  B.  J.  Relyea 
of  Green's  Farms  responded  : 

He  said  that  he  thought  it  was  the  glory  of  those 
who  repelled  the  British  that  they  had  such  worthy 
descendants.  It  would  not  be  to  their  credit  if  there 
were  none  who  esteemed  their  valor  and  patriotism 
enough  to  commemorate  their  brave  deeds.  People 
ofo  to  Rome  and  Athens,  not  to  see  what  has  been 
accomplished  in  modern  times,  but  to  see  what  the 
fathers  did.  He  was  glad  General  Tryon  had  not 
left  any  old  ruins  to  be  gazed  at  in  Fairfield.  He 
spoke  a  word  for  the  brave  women  of  1779,  who, 
when  the  men  were  away  fighting,  dared  to  face  the 
enemy  at  home. 


79 

The  President  showed  a  cannon  ball  that  had  been 
fired  from  the  American  guns  upon  the  British  from  the 
hills  and  said  that  was  a  sugar  plum  for  Tryon's  men 
that  was  well  deserved.  Sweeter  missiles  were  now 
interchanged,  and  our  programme  indicates  our  spirit 
now  towards  England  as  Sir  Edward  Thornton's  kind 
letter  indicates  Englands'  sentiment  towards  America 
There  is  to  be  held,  August  i  ith,  at  Guild  Hall,  Lon- 
don, an  International  Code  Congress  to  which  some 
persons  present,  like  himself,  had  been  invited,  under 
the  presidency  of  the  Chief  Justice  of  England. 
This  day's  proceedings  might  tell  a  little  upon  the 
future  law  and  policy  of  Nations. 

Rev.  John  A.  Buckingham,  of  Massachusetts,  was 
next  introduced  as  from  the  noble  old  Bay  State,  and 
as  the  son  of  the  once  famous  Boston  editor,  Joseph 
T.  Buckingham  :  Mr.  Buckingham  made  the  last 
speech  and  spoke  of  the  connections  of  his  ancestors 
with  the  State  and  its  achievements. 

The  President  then  announced  that  the  time  had 
arrived  for  closing  this  stirring  meeting,  and  that 
after  the  hymn  "  America"  had  been  sung  by  the  cho- 
rus and  the  people,  the  procession  would  form  to 
escort  the  Governor  to  the  station.  The  hymn  was 
sung  with  enthusiasm,  and  with  three  cheers  from  the 
great  assembly  of  guests  and  hosts  for  the  success 
of  the  occasion,  and  for  the  future  good  feeling  of 
neighbors  and  countrymen,  and  especially  for  the 
ladies    who  had  spread   the  tables  with   plenty,   the 


8o 

procession  was  formed.  The  band,  with  the  police, 
led  the  way.  Then  came  the  Governor  and  other 
officers  of  the  day  in  a  barouch  drawn  by  four  horses, 
with  a  long  line  of  carriages  and  people  on  foot. 
The  procession  passed  down  Beach  Lane  into  Main 
Street  by  the  old  historical  sites,  and  reached  the 
station  in  time  for  the  train  to  Bridgeport  at  half 
past  four. 

Thus  closed  a  day  unprecedented  in  the  annals  of 
this  quiet  old  town,  and  full  of  enjoyment  and  in- 
struction. A  large  number  of  our  people  by  their 
contributions  of  money  and  provisions  helped  on  the 
hospitality  of  the  occasion,  and  the  great  assembly 
of  guests  received  the  hospitality  shown  them  in  a 
courtesy  both  honorable  to  them  and  acceptable  to 
us. 

How  many  persons  were  present,  we  cannot  say 
with  certainty,  but  the  number  rose  into  the  thous- 
ands, and,  whilst  cautious  observers  were  content  to 
say  that  three  thousand  persons  were  in  sight  at  one 
time  on  the  Green,  more  enthusiastic  spectators 
claim  that  in  the  course  of  the  day  Fairfield  showed 
ten  thousand  people  and  one  thousand  vehicles  in  the 
streets. 

The  old  times  and  the  new  met  together,  especial- 
ly when  the  President  of  the  day  drank  the  health 
of  the  Governor  and  the  ladies,  in  the  silver  tankard 
that  belonged  to  the  Rev.  Andrew  Eliot,  in  1779. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


We  publish  such  portion  of  our  correspondence 
as  is  Hkely  most  to  interest  readers  and  to  add  to 
the  historical  value  of  this  record. 

[Besides  sending  a  telegram,  President  Hayes 
honored  the  occasion  by  the  following  official  letter  :] 

From  President  Hayes : 

Executive  Mansion, 

Washington,  July  7,  1879. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  am  directed  by  the  President,  to  acknowledge 
Avith  thanks,  the  receipt  of  your  favor  of  the  27th  ultimo,  and  to 
express  his  regret  that  he  will  be  unable  to  attend  the  Centennial 
Commemoration  of  the  Burning  of  Fairfield 

Very  truly  yours, 

W.  K.  ROGERS, 

Private  Secretary. 
Mr.  Wm.  a.  Beers, 

Secretary,  6^^., 

Fairfield,  Conn. 


From  Govertior  Andrews: 

Executive  Department, 
Hartford,  Conn, 

Litchfield,  yuly  i,  1879. 
Wm.  a.  Beers  : 

My  Dear  Sir  ; — I  propose  to  come  down  by  the  first  train  from 
here  in  the  morning,  which  will  bring  me  to  Bridgeport  at  about  10 
o'clock,  A.  M.  I  do  not  know  how  long  it  will  take  to  come  over 
to  Fairfield — I  shall  come  by  the  first  train. 

Perhaps  you  can  write  me  what  train  I  had  best  take ;  I  desire 
to  suit  your  convenience. 

Yours  very  truly, 

CHARLES  B.  ANDREWS. 


82 

From  Sir  Edward  Thornton  : 

British  Legation, 
Newburyport,  Mass.,  July  3,  1879. 
Sir  : — I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  kind  invitation  which 
you  have  forwarded  me,  to  be  present  at  the  ceremony  which  is 
to  take  place  at  Fairfield  on  the  8th  inst.  I  regret,  however,  that 
previous  engagements  will  prevent  my  availing  myself  of  it.  I, 
at  the  same  time,  beg  to  assure  you  of  the  high  appreciation 
which  I  entertain  of  the  good-will  shown  towards  the  country 
which  I  have  the  honor  to  represent,  and  to  express  my  hope  that 
the  friendship  which  now  exists  between  the  two  countries  may 
never  be  interrupted. 

I  remain.  Sir,  truly  yours, 

EDWD.  THORNTON. 
Wm.  a.  Beers, 

Secretary,  6^^., 

Fairfield,  Comi. 


From  the  Right  Rev.  John  Williams  : 

Middletown,  yuly  2,  1879. 
My  Dear  Dr.  Osgood  : — I  very  much  regret  that  an  impera- 
tive engagement  will  deprive  me  of  the  pleasure  of  being  at  Fair- 
field on  the  8th.     With  every  good  wish  for  the  success — of  which 
there  can  be  no  doubt — of  the  celebration, 

I  am,  faithfully  yours, 

J.  WILLIAMS. 


From  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Potter  : 

Rye  Beach,  N.  H.,  July  8,   1879. 

Dear  Dr.  Osgood  : — I  thank  you  very  much  for  your  kindness 
in  sending  me  a  card  of  invitation  to  the  Fairfield  Centennial. 
It  was  a  pleasant  conception  and  your  proceedings  are  nicely 
arranged. 

Your  card  came  to  me  only  this  morning ;  therefore,  as  to  an 
appearance  at  Fairfield,  you  must  accept  the  will  for  the  deed. 

I  am,  affectionately  yours, 

H.  POTTER. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Osgood. 


83 

Frotn  President  Noah  Porter  : 

Yale  College, 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  /u/y  3,  1879. 
Rev.  Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D.,  President,  ar^e.  : 

My  Dear  Sir  : — It  would  give  me  especial  pleasure  to  be 
present  at  the  Centennial  Commemoration  of  the  Burning  of 
Fairfield,  which  event,  for  special  reasons,  took  strong  hold  of 
my  youthful  imagination,  but  a  previous  engagement  makes  this 
impossible.     With  sincere  regard  and  thanks 

I  am,  very  truly  yours, 

N.  PORTER. 


From  the  Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop  : 

Brookline,  Mass.,  /u/j  4,  1879. 

My  Dear  Dr.  Osgood  : — Your  programme  for  the  Centennial 
at  Fairfield  is  most  tempting,  and  your  invitation  is  most  kind. 
My  ancestral  ties  to  Connecticut  are  hardly  less  strong  than  those 
to  Massachusetts,  and  I  would  gladly  unite  in  such  a  commemo- 
ration. It  would  be  a  peculiar  pleasure  to  me  to  listen  to  your 
own  address,  as  well  as  to  the  historic  discourse  of  Dr.  Rankin. 
And  then  to  spend  a  day  or  two  at  Greenfield  Hill,  and  enjoy  its 
inspiring  charms,  would  fill  up  the  measure  of  a  delightful  occa- 
sion, which  I  am  deeply  sorry  to  miss.  But  I  must  deny  myself. 
Neither  engagements  nor  health  will  allow  me  to  adventure  on 
such  an  excursion. 

Pray  present  my  most  grateful  acknowledgments  to  your  com- 
mittee, and  accept  my  best  thanks  for  yourself. 

Ever  faithfully,  your  friend  and  serv't, 

ROB'T  C.  WINTHROP. 
Rev.  Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D. 


From  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lyman  Atwater  : 

College  of  New  Jersey, 

Princeton,  /u/y  i,  1879. 
My  Dear  Dr.  Osgood  : — I  deeply  regret  that  prior  engage- 
ments will  prevent  my  acceptance  of  the  kind  invitation  to  be 
present  at  the  Centennial  Commemoration  of  the  Burning  of 
Fairfield  by  the  British  a  century  ago.  It  would  give  me 
great  pleasure  to  attend  the  exercises  on  that  occasion,  so  inter- 


84 

esting  in  itself,  while  it  is  made  doubly  so  to  me,  both  by  manifold 
associations  and  memories,  and  by  the  prominent  part  which 
friends  so  valued  by  me,  and  so  competent  for  the  task,  are  to 
take  in  its  exercises. 

These  have  a  sad  aspect  if  we  look  only  at  the  savage  burning 
of  the  beautiful  village  in  violation  of  all  the  rules  of  civilized 
warfare,  which,  in  a  day,  made  houseless  and  homeless  a  body  of 
people  as  elevated  as  ever  dwelt  in  like  habitations.  But  it  has  a 
joyous  and  exultant  side.  The  patriotism,  valor,  and  self-sacrifice 
of  our  ancestors  were  only  more  fully  proved  and  invigorated  by 
these  prodigious  sufferings  which  were  the  price  of  the  liberty 
and  independence  of  themselves  and  their  children.  In  these  we 
joy  and  glory.  These  and  the  victories  achieved  by  them,  should 
be  celebrated  and  perpetuated  in  honorable  remembrance  by  be- 
coming festivities- 
It  was  my  privilege  during  my  early  ministry  in  Fairfield  to 
know  and  commune  with  some  of  those  noble  men,  and  "honor- 
able women,  not  a  few,"  who  shared  in  these  privations,  conflicts, 
and  triumphs. 

Although  in  person  necessarily  absent,  in  heart  I  shall  be  with 
you  in  the  approaching  celebration. 

Yours  very  truly, 

LYMAN   H.  ATWATER. 

p.  S. — It  may  or  may  not  fall  in  your  way  to  note — what  you 
doubtless  are  aware  of — the  close  and  honorable  connection  of 
the  town  of  Fairfield  with  the  higher  institutions  of  learning  in 
the  country.  Not  only  were  sons  of  the  earlier  ministers  of 
Fairfield  leading  members  of  the  Corporation  of  Yale  College, 
but,  near  the  beginning  of  this  century.  Dr.  Timothy  Dwight  was 
called  from  Greenfield  Church  to  the  Presidency,  and  Prof.  Ben- 
jamin Silliman,  son  of  General  Silliman  of  Holland  Hill,  promi- 
nent in  the  revolutionary  war,  was  called  to  a  Professorship  in 
Yale  College,  positions  which  they  so  adorned,  as  to  contribute 
more  to  the  advancement  of  that  college  than  any  other  two  men 
in  its  whole  history.  Rev.  Aaron  Burr,  father  of  Aaron  Burr, 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  and  son-in-law  of  President 
Edwards,  was  the  first  President  of  Princeton  College  after  it  was 
organized  as  a  College,  and  successful  and  honored  administrator 
of  its  affairs.  Dr.  Heman  Humphries,  pastor  of  the  old  First 
Church  of  Fairfield,  became  President  of  Amherst  College  about 


a  half  century  ago,  and  it  had  a  rapid  growth  under  his  adminis- 
tration. The  town  has  furnished  students,  not  only  for  Yale,  but 
for  Harvard,  Princeton,  Williams,  Amherst,  and  other  Colleges, 
some  of  whom  have  done  honor  to  their  alma  mater,  and  their 
native  town. 


From  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  P.  Humphrey : 

Louisville,  Kv.,  July  3,  1879. 
Rev.  Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D.,  President^  d^e. 
William  A.  Beers,  Secretary,  c^c. 

My  Dear  Sirs  : — I  am  honored  by  your  invitation  to  be  pres- 
•ent  at  the  approaching  Centennial  Commemoration  to  be  held  in 
Fairfield.     I  regret  that  I  cannot  go  thither  at  that  time. 

It  is  my  happiness  to  be  recognized  in  this  invitation,  as  a 
native-born  Fairfield  man.  I  have  been  unable  to  visit  the  town, 
except  at  long  intervals,  since  my  boyhood  ;  but  I  am  of  opinion 
that  no  true  man  will  allow  absence,  or  the  lapse  of  time  to  defeat 
his  birth-rights  in  our  dear  old  "  Half-shire." 

I  indulge  myself  in  the  pleasant  thought  that  I  sustain  a  certain 
near  relation  to  the  people  whose  property  was  destroyed.  My 
honored  father,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Heman  Humphrey,  became  the 
■minister  of  Fairfield  in  1806,  only  twenty-seven  years  after  the 
burning.  We  may  assume  that  not  a  few  of  his  parishioners 
were  among  the  sufferers.  The  names  of  the  principal  families 
of  the  town  were  always  household  words  in  our  house ;  and  our 
parents  taught  their  children  to  hold  these  people  in  honor  and 
love.  You  say  well,  that  among  them  were  some  of  the  best 
■"men  and  women  of  the  land." 

You  will  be  interested  in  a  graphic  description  of  Fairfield  in 
1806,  which  I  find  in  my  father's  auto-biography.     Here  it  is: 

"Fairfield  was  then  a  considerable  village,  and  the  half-shire, 
town  of  the  county;  but  very  plain  in  its  external  appearance 
Not  more  than  four  or  five  of  the  houses,  I  believe  had  ever  been 
painted,  and  these  were  now  so  weather-beaten  that  the  signs  of 
paint  had  well  nigh  disappeared.  Fairfield  had  been  burnt  during 
the  revolution.  By  this  calamity  the  inhabitants  were  very  much 
impoverished,  and  were  obliged  to  rebuild  in  as  plain  a  style  as 
was  consistent  with  the  comfort  of  their  families." 

"Some  had  more  property  and  intelligence  than  others;  but 
while  none  were  rich,  few  were  very  poor.     And  there  was  a  free- 


86 

dom   and  cordiality  in   social  intercourse  which  was  delightful 
Whole  neighborhoods  lived  together  like  one  great  family  of  many 
branches.     This  was  ascribed  to  the  fellowship  of  suffering  pro- 
duced by  the  calamities  of  war."     Thus  far  the  old-time  minister 
of  our  native  town. 

And  now,  may  that  Great  Being,  the  God  of  our  Fathers,  who 
bore  the  generation  of  1639  across  the  seas,  and  who  sustained 
the  generation  of  1779  amidst  the  flames — may  He  be  the 
dwelling  place  of  their  children  in  all  generations ! 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

EDWARD  P.  HUMPHREY. 


Fro7n  the  Rev.  Augustine  F.  Hew  it,  D.D.  : 
Paulist  Covnent, 

59th  Street  and  9th  Avenue, 

New  York,  June  28,  1879. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  : — I  have  the  pleasure  of  acknowledging^ 
the  receipt  of  your  kind  note,  and  also  of  the  Secretary's  official 
invitation  to  the  Commemoration  at  Fairfield  on  the  8th  of  July,- 
which  arrived  only  this  morning. 

If  I  find  it  convenient  to  come  up  on  that  day,  I  will  very 
gladly  comply  with  your  request,  by  making  a  short  speech  if 
time  permits,  and  the  addresses  are  not  too  numerous  and  long 
for  the  good  humor  of  the  audience. 

The  occasion  is  an  interesting  one,  and  all  the  circumstances 
of  place  and  time  are  favorable  for  such  a  celebration,  if  only  the 
elements  are  propitious.  I  trust  you  may  have  a  bright,  cool  day,, 
with  a  friendly  cloud  to  veil  the  mid-day  sun,  and  no  rain  to  in- 
terrupt the  enjoyment  of  the  occasion.  I  have  no  doubt  all  pres- 
ent will  be  disposed  to  offer  up,  sincerely,  the  prayer  of  the 
soldier's  little  boy,  "  Oh  !  Lord,  let  there  be  no  more  wars." 

I  remain,  yours  truly, 

AUGUSTINE  F.  HEWIT. 
Rev.  Dr.  Osgood, 

Fairfield,  Conn. 


87 

From  the  Hon.  Solomon  Lincoln  : 

HiNGHAM,  /uly  2,   1879. 
Rev.  Samuel  Osgood,  President. 

Dear  Sir  : — I  have  received  your  circular  inviting  me  to  be 

present  at  the  Centennial  Commemoration   of  the    Burning   of 

Fairfield,  in  1779.     I  regret  that  the  state  of  my  health   is  such 

that  it  will  preclude  my  acceptonce  of  your  courteous  invitation. 

With  great  respect, 

I  am,  your  ob't  serv't, 

SOLOMON  LINCOLN. 


From  George  Dimon^  Esq.  : 

Milan,  O.,  Jutie  30,  1879. 

Gentlemen  : — Your  circular-letter  inviting  me  to  be  present 
at  a  Centennial  Commemoration  of  the  anniversary  of  the  burn- 
ing of  the  houses,  stores  and  churches  in  old  Fairfield,  by  the 
British  troops,  was  received  by  due  course  of  mail. 

I  feel  flattered  to  know  that  I  was  remembered — but,  yet,  I 
may  have  some  claims  to  notice  on  such  an  occasion,  as  I  am  the 
oldest  male  descendent  of  my  Grandfather,  William  Dimon,  whose 
house  and  buildings  were  burned — and,  also,  of  my  Grandfather, 
John  Andrews,  who  served  his  country  as  a  soldier  seven  years 
in  the  war  of  the  revolution,  and  who  lived  his  last  days  in  Green's 
Farms.  I  well  remember  the  many  stories  he  told  of  hardship 
and  suffering  during  that  time,  and,  although  I  have  now  connec- 
tions in  England,  I  feel  a  little  guilty  when  I  think  of  the  red- 
coats of  that  day — and  now,  after  thirty-four  years  residence  in 
the  land  we  once  called  New  Connecticut,  my  feelings  of  attach- 
ment to  my  native  land  are  as  strong  as  ever.  Mill  River,  South- 
port,  and  Fairfield  will  always  seem  pleasant  and  homelike. 

As  a  boy,  and  young  man,  I  knew  personally  all  the  leading 
men  of  Fairfield  and  vicinity,  and  we  looked  up  to  them  with 
veneration  and  respect,  feeling  that  they  were  very  great  men. 

There  was  Gen.  Burr,  Col.  Burr,  Sam'l  Rowland,  Sheriff  Dimon, 
Doctor  Hull,  Deacon  Judson,  our  Pastor,  Rev.  Humphrey,  Roger 
M.  Sherman,  Judge  Sturges,  Capt.  Gould  Jennings,  Capt.  A.  Ben- 
son, Lothrop  Lewis,  Gould  Allen,  James  Knapp,  Jeremiah  Jen- 
nings, and  old  uncle  Anse  Trubee,  and  his  flock  of  sheep.  All 
of  these  men  and  many  others  I  remember,  and  now,  in  passing 
through  the  town,  it  seems  as  if  I  ought  to  see  some  of  them^ 
but  we  pass   away  and   everything  changes.     I  find  now  but  few 


88 

of  the  landmarks  of  other  days,  notably  two  that  don't  change  ; 
one,  Hyde's  Pond,  another,  the  old  academy,  where,  in  my  go- 
to-school  days,  Murray's  English,  Virgil's  Latin  and  Homer's 
Greek,  were  themes  of  much  hard  study  by  very  many  young  men 
fitting  themselves  for  a  college  course. 

I  regret  exceedingly  that  circumstances  prevent  my  being  with 
you  on  this  occasion.  It  would  be  a  treat,  indeed,  to  see  and 
meet  so  many  of  your  people,  and  help  commemorate  the  day. 

Hoping  you  may  have  a  pleasant  day,  and  have  very  many  with 
you,   and  that  your  historic  speaker  will  tell  to  them   a  good 

story,  while 

I  remain,  yours  very  respectfully, 

George  Dimon. 
Rev,  Sam'l  Osgood,  D.  D.,  Fresidentj 
Wm.  a.  Beers,  Secretary, 

Fairfield  Commemoration, 

Fairfield,  Ct. 


From  the  Rev.  Edward  E.  Beardsley,  D.  D.,  L.  L.  D. 

New  Haven,  Conn.,  Jidy  5th,  1879. 
Rev.  Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D.,  L.  L.  D.,  President. 

My  Dear  Doctor  : — I  have  been  favored  with  an  invitation 
to  be  present  the  8th  inst.  at  the  Centennial  Commemoration  of 
the  Burning  of  Fairfield.  It  would  afford  me  much  pleasure  to 
witness  the  exercises,  but  my  engagements  at  home  will  not 
permit  me  to  leave  on  that  day. 

These  Centennials  bring  out  the  history,  so  far  as  it  has  been 
preserved,  of  some  of  the  more  important  local  events  of  the 
Revolution,  but  they  have  no  power  to  reproduce  the  scenes  of 
suffering  and  of  terror  through  which  our  forefathers  were  com- 
pelled to  pass.  We  cannot,  by  stepping  back  a  century,  measure 
the  degree  of  excitement  and  feeling  which  prevailed  among  both 
the  adherents  of  the  crown  and  the  supporters  of  independence. 
They  shared  alike  in  the  devastations  of  the  invading  army,  and 
my  historical  researches  have  led  me  to  believe  that  in  the  heats 
and  passions  of  the  revolution,  scant  justice  was  sometimes  done 
to  those  who  could  not  in  their  consciences  favor  the  war,  yet 
stoutly  opposed  taxation  without  representation,  and  preferred  to 
vindicate  their  rights  as  British  subjects  within  the  colonies. 
This  was  eminently  the  case  with  Dr.  Wm.  Sam'l   Johnson,  of 


89 

Stratford,  a  statesman  whom  Connecticut  honored  by  appointing 
him  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  convention  which  framed  the 
Federal  constitution,  and  by  subsequently  choosing  him  her  first 
Senator  in  Congress. 

The  clergy  and  members  of  the  Church  of  England  in  the 
colonies,  were  for  the  most  part  loyal  to  the  King,  but  the  Tories^ 
as  they  were  stigmatized,  were  not  all  of  that  religious  faith. 
Here,  in  New  Haven,  the  same  expedition  which  invaded  and 
burnt  Fairfield,  met  with  sympathizers  who  belonged  to  the  Stand- 
ing Order,  and  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  and  wealthy  among 
them — a  distinguished  lawyer  who  had  been  for  nearly  a  score  of 
years  a  communicant  member  of  the  First  Congregational  Church 
— accepted  for  himself  and  his  family  the  protection  of  Governor 
Tryon,  and  left  with  the  troops  when  they  re-embarked  and  sailed 
away  to  apply  the  torch  to  your  defenceless  town.  With  the 
destruction  of  the  stores  and  houses  in  Fairfield  went  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  and,  at  a  later  date,  two  others  were  burnt  in  the 
Colony  by  the  very  invaders  whose  cause  they  were  supposed  to 
maintain. 

We  must  allow  what  has  passed  into  history  to  stand,  but  it  is 
well  in  these  days  to  recognize  the  fact  that,  in  the  descendants 
of  the  participants  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  on  both  sides,  has 
flowed  some  of  the  best  blood  of  Connecticut.  From  Patriot  and 
Tory  families  have  come  those  who  have  contributed  to  the  honor 
and  prosperity  of  the  State  and  the  nation,  and  made  names  for 
themselves  which  will  live  in  literature,  science,  and  religion,  when 
generation  after  generation  has  passed  away. 

Thanking  you  for  the  invitation, 

I  remain,  very  truly  yours, 

E.  E.  BEARDSLEY. 


From  the  Rev.  Dr.  T.   IV.  Coit : 

MiDDLETOWN,    CoNN. 

Wm.  a.  Beers,  Esq. 

Dear  Sir  : — Many  thanks  for  an   invitation  to  the  Centennial 

Commemoration  at   Fairfield.     I   should  like  to  witness  it ;  but 

since  the   death   of  my  oldest   son,  I  have   avoided   publicity  as 

much  as  possible. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

T.  W.  Coit. 

W.  A.  Beers,  Esq., 

Secretary.,  ^'c. 


90 

From  the  Rev.  George  P.  Fisher.,  D.  D.,  L.  L.  D.  : 

New  Haven,  //i/y  7,   1879. 
Rev.  Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D. 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I  regret  that  I  am  prevented  from  accepting 
the  invitation  with  which  I  have  been  honored,  to  attend  the 
Commemoration  of  the  sufferings  and  self-sacrifice  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Fairfield  which  is  to  be  held  to-morrow. 

With  sincere  thanks  to  the  Committee  for  the  favor  of  an  invi- 
tation, 

Believe  me,  Dear  Sir, 

Yours  faithfully, 

GEORGE  P.  FISHER. 
Rev.  Dr.  Osgood. 


From  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Headley  : 

Newburgh,  yi/Zy  5,   1879. 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I  regret  that  my  engagements  will  prevent 
me  from  accepting  your  polite  invitation  to  be  present  at  the 
Centennial  Commemoration  of  the  Burning  of  Fairfield,  on  the 
8th  inst.  I  take  a  great  interest  in  all  these  centennial  celebra- 
tions of  the  important  events  of  our  revolution.  They  are  oc- 
curring at  the  right  time,  and  tend  to  rekindle  the  interest  in  that 
unparalelled  struggle  for  freedom  that  the  stirring  events  of  our 
late  civil  war  had  well  nigh  extinguished. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

J.  T.  HEADLEY. 
Rev.  Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D. 


From  the  Hon.  Dwight  Morris  : 

Bridgeport,  /i/ne  30,   1879. 
My  Dear  Sir: — Your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  Centennial 
Celebration  of  the  Burning  of  Fairfield,  is  received. 

It  will  afford  me  great  pleasure  to  attend,  and  join  with  you  all, 
but  do  not  call  on  me  to  speak.  The  names  on  the  programme 
who  make  addresses  are  too  far  ahead  of  me  to  permit  it. 

Very  truly  yours, 

DWIGHT    MORRIS. 
Rev.  Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D. 


91 

From  Colonel  Robei-t  C.   Wet 7710 re  : 

Orange  Valley, 

New  Jersey,  yuly  3,  1879, 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir: — Your  very  kind  and  flattering  re- 
membrance of  myself  in  your  Secretary's  transmitted  invita- 
tion, for  my  presence  at  your  Centennial  Commemoration  of  the 
Burning  of  Fairfield  by  the  British  troops,  July  the  8th,  1779,  is. 
duly  received. 

If  a  descendant  of  one  of  Fairfield's  most  fearless  defenders 
(Quartermaster  Richard  Hubbell),  during  that  perilous  period  of 
its  history,  which  your  proposed  celebration  is  to  recall,  then  I 
am   indeed    worthy    of  the    distinction    your   invitation   confers. 

You  will  readily  believe  I  am  deeply  grieved  that  my  connec- 
tion with  the  celebration  of  the  4th  instant,  deprives  me  of  the 
pleasure  of  again  meeting  cherished  friends  upon  that  venerated 
old  "  Green,"  and  from  adding  some,  perhaps,  interesting  his- 
torical reminiscences  of  past  generations,  who  were  wont  to- 
assemble  there  in  council. 

With  very  high  respect,  &c,, 

Robert  C.  Wetmore, 
To  Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D.,  To  the  manor  born. 

President,  os^c. 


From  the  Mayor  of  New  Haven  : 

City  Clerk's  Office,  No.  7  City  Hall,. 
New  Haven,  /uly  7,  1879. 

Dear  Sirs  : — Your  kind  invitation  to  participate  in  your  Cen- 
tennial was  duly  received,  but  owing  to  the  excitement  and  rush 
attendant  on  our  own  celebration,  I  have  not  been  able  to  give 
an  earlier  answer.  Personally,  if  possible,  I  shall  be  present. 
As  to  the  Aldermen  and  Councilmen,  they  have  held  no  meeting 
since  the  arrival  of  your  invitation.  The  Aldermen  meet  this 
evening,  when  I  shall  lay  the  matter  before  them. 

Hoping  that  your  celebration  may  be  as  successful  as  ours  has 

been,  I  remain. 

Yours  respectfully, 

H.  B.  Bigelow,  Mayor. 

Com.  on  Centennial  Celebration, 

Fairfield,  Conn. 


92 

From  A.  Foote,  Clerk  of  Selectmen  of  New  Haven  : 

Office  of  Selectmen  and  Town  Agent, 
No.  2  City  Hall, 

New  Haven,  Ct.,  fi/ly  7,   1879. 
Wm.  a.  Beers,  Esq. 

Sec'y  on  the  Committee  on  Centennial  Commemoration. 

Dear  Sir  : — Your  invitation  to  the  New  Haven  Board  of  select- 
men to  be  present  and  participate  in  the  exercises  on  the  occasion 
of  the  Centennial  Commemoration  of  the  invasion  of  the  town  of 
Fairfield  by  the  British  troops,  has  been  duly  received  and  ordered 
placed  on  file. 

In  reply  I  am  instructed  by  the  Board  to  say  to  you,  that  this 
occasion,  occuring  so  soon  after  a  like  occasion  in  our  own  town 
and  city,  and  the  usual  press  of  business  in  consequence  of  semi- 
annual adjustments  necessitates,  with  regret,  a  declination  of  your 
very  kind  and  cordial  invitation. 

Very  respectfully  yours,        * 
A.  FOOTE, 

Clerk  Board  of  Selectmen. 


George  N.  French,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  Common  Council  of  Bridgeport. 

Bridgeport,  July,  4th,  1879. 
W.  A.  Beers,  Secretary, 

Dear  Sir  : — The  Common  Council  having  voted  to  accept  your 
very  kind  invitation  to  participate  with  you  in  the  commemoration 
services,  and  having  appointed  the  undersigned  chairman  of  a 
Committee  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  to  this  end,  I  would 
be  pleased  to  hear  from  you  in  reference  to  your  plans,  and  as  to 
the  time  you  wish  the  Council  to  arrive  at  your  place  and  as  to 
whether  you  are  to  have  a  parade.  Any  information  in  regard  to 
the  matter  will  aid  the  Committee  very  much  in  the  discharge  of 
their  duty.  Would  you  prefer  to  have  us  come  by  cars  or  in 
carriages  ? 

Very  truly  yours, 

GEORGE  N.  FRENCH, 

Chairman  of  Committee. 


From  P.  T.  Barnum  Esq.: 

Montpelier,  Vt.,  July,  5th,  1879. 

Mv  Dear  Dr.  Osgood  : — Yours  of  yesterday  arrived  on  this,  my 
69th  birthday.     You  say  I  have  made  the  nation  laugh  and  be 


93 

wise.  Yet  I  have  tried  to  have  them  laugh  without  doing  it 
through  bad  whiskey.  I  have  not  taught  them  to  laugh  at  vulgar- 
ity, obscenity  nor  profanity. 

As  the  French  poet  did  not  care  who  made  the  laws,  if  he 
might  write  the  ballads  of  a  nation,  so  I  have  felt  in  a  degree  in 
relation  to  the  amusements  of  a  nation.  The  people  will  have 
recreation  —  their  natures  need  and  demand  it — he  who  will 
provide  it,  freed  from  all  poisons,  is  in  some  regard  a  public  bene- 
factor. My  chief  object  in  conthmtng  a  public  menagerie  is  to 
elevate  and  refine  such  popular  amusements  as  are  found  under 
traveling  tents. 

I  shall  be  tired  after  my  fifteen  hours  railroad  journey,  reaching 
Bridgeport  at  10.05  Tuesday,  A.  M.  I  shall  then  see,  I  hope,  by 
the  Bridgeport  newspapers  at  what  hour  the  Fairfield  proceedings 
take  place,  and  try  to  be  on  hand.  I  have  no  idea  what  I  can  say^ 
but  will  try  and  think,  and  keep  within  the  ten  minutes. 

Truly  yours, 

P.  T.  BARNUM. 

From  T.  P.  Handy ^  Esq.: 

Cleveland,  O.,  July,  3d,  1879. 
Wm.  a.  Beers,  Secretary 

My  Dear  Sir  : — Please  accept  my  thanks  for  the  honor  of  your 
kind  invitation  for  the  8th  inst.  at  the  Centennial  Commemoration 
in  the  old  town  of  Fairfield,  with  my  regrets  that  I  shall  be  unable 
to  be  present  or  to  participate  in  the  services  of  the  day. 

I  esteem  it  a  pleasure  that  I  was  once  a  resident  of  that  beautiful 
town  and  enjoyed  the  society  of  some  of  its  esteemed  and  valued 
citizens. 

I  shall  always  cherish  those  pleasant  memories,  and  rejoice  in 
its  continued  attractions  and  prosperity. 

Thanking  you  again  for  the  extended  invitation,  and  trusting  that 
the  occasion  will  be  a  pleasant  one  to  all, 

I  remain,  with  much  esteem, 

Your  sincere  friend, 

T.  P.  HANDY. 


From  Airs.  E.  H,  Schenck : 

Southport  Conn.,  June,  26th,  1879. 
My  Dear  Dr.  Osgood  : — Since  I  saw  you  this  afternoon  I  have 
thought  of  a  few   things  in  our  family  history  which  you   may 


94 

perhaps   like    to   know    about,    and  which  are  interesting  in  the 
history  of  our  town,  and  they  are  these  : 

My  father's  grandfather,  Nathan  Godfrey,  was  one  of  the 
earhest  settlers  of  Greens  Farm's,  and  was  also  one  of  fourteen 
to  build  the  First  CongregationaX  "  meeting  /louse"  at  that  place, 
of  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Relyea  speaks  in  his  centennial  history  of 
the  settlement  of  Green's  Farms. 

My  father  represents  the  third  generation  of  his  family,  and 
was  named  after  his  father,  Jonathan  Godfrey,  the  son  of  Nathan 
Godfrey. 

My  brother  being  dead,  I,  as  the  oldest  of  the  family  represent 
the  fourth  generation,  and  Charles  Godfrey,  (my  nephew  and  the 
son  of  my  eldest  brother)  represents  the  fifth  generation  of  our 
family  who  have  lived  in  this  town,  in  this  county,  for  over  two 
hundred  years. 

Then,  again,  my  mother's  family  were  the  old  Hubbell  family  at 
Greenfield,  who  also  date  back  to  the  settlement  of  Greenfield, 
My  mother's  mother  was  a  Jennings  of  the  old  Jennings  family 
that  first  settled  Fairfield.  And  as  my  father's  grandfather  mar- 
ried a  Jennings,  no  less  than  three  of  the  early  settlers  head  our 
family  tree.  In  fact  four  families  head  our  family  tree,  for  my 
father's  mother,  who  was  a  Whitehead,  dates  back  to  the  first  set- 
tlement of  Green's  Farms. 

It  cannot  be  often  said  that  a  family  have  lived  so  continuously 
in  one  place. 

The  old  Bulkley  family,  of  which  mention  is  made  in  the  history 
of  the  burning  of  Fairfield,  are  not  the  Bulkley  family  of  Southport, 
but  the  one  at  Green's  Farms  of  which  Abraham  Bulkley  and 
Joel  B.  Bulkley  are  the  descendants,  I  notice  this  because  the 
Bulkleys  of  this  place  are  confused  with  this  family  at  Green's 
Farms.  It  was  Abraham  Bulkley,  who  opened  his  house  to  our 
church  of  England  families  after  the  little  church  ?iear  Mrs. 
Rowland's,  was  burned  by  the  British,  which  house  still  stands  on 
the  East  side  of  the  Green,  at  Fairfield.  Do  you  not  think  that 
this  Joel  B.  Bulkley,  who  is  now  over  eighty,  should  be  invited  to 
represent  so  loyal  a  family  in  church  and  state  in  the  history  of  our 
town.  They  are  highly  respectable  farmers.  My  mother  has  often 
told  me  that  Abraham  Bulkley,  of  revolutionary  remembrance,  was 
a  man  of  education,  and  a  gentleman  in  every  way.  A  son  of  this 
Joel  Bulkley  often  sings  in  our  church  at  Fairfield  with  Mrs.  Lom- 
bard. 


95 

Please  pardon  my  long  note,  allowing  me  to  say  one  thing  more 
about  my  own  family,  which'  is  that  they  were  of  French  and 
English  origin,  our  family  motto  being  ^' Dens  et  libertas"  or  God 
and  liberty— God  and  freedom,  GODFREE— GODFREY. 

Believe  me, 

Truly  yours, 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Schenck. 

Joel  B.  Bulkey's  address  would  be  at  Southport,  as  he  li\es  on 
the  border  line  at  Sasco. 


From  Captain  Isaac  Jennings  : 

Captain   Jennings  sent  us  the  following  account  of  a  Fairfield 
lady,  who  made  the  first  American  flag  of  the  present  pattern. 
Death  of  Mrs.  Captain  Reid. 

We  regret  to  announce  the  demise,  at  Wheeling,  Virginia,  on 
Sunday  morning,  the  19th  inst.,  of  Mrs.  Reid,  wife  of  Captain 
Samuel  C.  Reid,  so  distinguished  in  our  naval  records  for  his  de- 
fence of  the  brig  General  Armstrong  against  the  English  squadron, 
at  the  port  of  Fayal,  in  1814.  Mrs.  Reid  was  the  daughter  of 
Captain  Nathan  Jennings,  of  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  who  shared 
the  fatigues  and  glory  of  Trenton  in  the  Continental  Army,  under 
George  Washington. 

Mrs.  Reid  was  early  distinguished  for  beauty  and  talent  ;  and 
when  her  husband's  glory  made  her  house  the  centre  of  much 
literary  and  patriotic  attraction,  her  clear  intellect  and  domestic 
virtues  shed  a  charm  and  a  grace  worthy  alike  of  her  enviable 
position  and  that  of  her  visitors,  among  whom  were  some  of  the 
most  distinguished  persons  of  the  day,  including  Gov.  Clinton, 
Gov.  Tompkins,  Daniel  Webster,  Henry  Clay,  Dr.  Sam  Mitchell, 
Judge  Johnson,  of  the  Supreme  Court,  with  the  Tones,  Emmetts 
and  McNevins,  Dr.  Francis,  and  others  among  the  oldest  of  our 
citizens.  In  her  devotion  to  a  large  family  of  children  Mrs.  Reid 
was  unrivaled,  and  in  her  patriotic  ardor  she  was  alike  worthy  of 
her  husband  and  her  father.  In  1818,  with  the  assistance  of  some 
young  ladies,  she  made  the  first  flag  of  the  Union,  as  adopted  by 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  in  that  year,  and  which  was  the 
design  of  Captain  Reid.  On  the  admission  of  Indiana  into  the 
Union,  in  1816,  the  Hon.  P.  H.  Wendover,  of  New  York,  sug- 
gested to  Congress  the  expediency  of  altering  the  then  flag. 


96 

Captain  Reid  undertook  it,  and  on  the  4th  of  April,  181 8,  a  bill 
was  passed  "to  establish  the  flag  of  the  United  States."  The  fol- 
lowing letter  chronicles  the  date  of  its  hoisting,  and  makes  hon- 
orable mention  of  the  deceased  lady. 

Washington,  April  13,  1818. 

Dear  Sir  :  I  have  just  arrived  in  time  to  inform  you  that  the  new  flag  of 
Congress  Hall  arrived  here  per  mail  this  day,  and  was  hoisted  to  replace  the 
old  one,  at  2  o'clock,  and  has  given  much  satisfaction  to  all  that  have  seen  it,  as 
far  as  I  have  heard.  I  am  pleased  with  its  form,  and  have  no  doubt  it  will  sat- 
isfy the  public  mind. 

Mr.  Clay  (who  was  then  speaker  of  the  House),  says  it  is  wrong  that  there 
should  be  no  charge  in  your  bill  for  making  the  flag.  If  pay  for  that  will  be 
acceptable,  on  being  informed,  I  will  procure  it.  Do  not  understand  me  as  in- 
tending to  wound  the  feelings  of  Mrs.  Reid,  nor  others  who  may  have  given  aid 
in  the  business,  and  please  accept  my  thanks  to  her  and  them  and  accept  the 
same  for  yourself. 

Yours  in  haste,  with  esteem,  P.  H.  WENDOVER. 

Mrs.  Reid's  name  and  those  of  the  young  ladies  who  assisted  her 
were  worked  on  this  flag.  The  deceased  was  in  the  sixty-second 
year  of  her  age,  and  had  been  on  a  visit  to  one  of  her  sons  in  the 
West,  whence  she  lately  had  gone  to  Wheeling,  to  superintend  the 
erection  of  a  monument  over  the  grave  of  her  eldest  son  there. " 
The  deceased  leaves  a  devoted  family  and  a  large  circle  of  person- 
al freinds  in  this  city,  by  whom  she  was  deeply  beloved. 

We  close  this  correspondence  with  communica- 
tions from  Rev.  Drs.  Rankin  and  Osgood,  one 
relating  to  the  remuneration  of  the  families  who 
suffered  loss  by  the  burning  of  the  town — the  other 
giving  important  notes  of   its  church  history. 


97 


A  list  of  the  persons  who  suffered  by  the  enemy  in 
burning  the  town  of  Fairfield,  on  the  7th  and  8th 
days  of  July,  1779,  and  had  their  taxes  abated  by 
the  Committee  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly 
for  that  purpose  : 


Anthony  Annibil, 
David  Annibil, 
Elijah  Abel, 
George  Allen,  - 
David  Allen, 
Eben  Bartram, 
John  Allen, 
Nehemiah  Buddington, 
Andrew  Bulkley, 
James  Bulkley, 
Walter  Buddington, 
Peter  Burr, 
Samuel  Beers, 
Joseph  Beers,   - 
Abigail  Burr, 
David  Burr, 
William  Buddington,    - 
David  Burr, 
Wakeman  Burr,    - 
Samuel  Burr, 
Job  Bartram, 
Priscilla  Burr, 
Thaddeus  Burr,   - 
David  Beers, 
Ann  Dimon, 
William  Dimon, 
Elizabeth  Gold,  - 
Peter  Wendzich, 
David  Jennings,  - 
Isaac  Jarvis,    - 
Moses  Jennings, 


List,  1781.       List,  1782. 

;^2o.  ^20.  7.  6 

18.  34-12.  o 

30.12.  28.11.  6 

-  is-  7-  6  28.11.  6 
56.  8.  3  77.  2.  6 

-  44.11  42.15 
18.  6.  6.18 

-  23.  21. 
20.  29. 

20.  21. 
23-  5-  24.15 
76.   I.  6  81.  7 
55.  2.  6  60.  8.  6 

-  3I-I9-  37-I9-  o 

3.12.  3.  8. 

22.10.  28.  6 

21.  21. 
4.  4. 

25.  21. 

42.17.  6  44-I7-  6 

II. 12.  7  6. II. 19 

24.  o.  6  32.  6.  6 

145.   I.  4  167.16.  6 

55.  2.  6  62.   2.  6 

26.19.  25. 

51.  6.  60.   2. 

48.  8.  9  39.   I.  6 

22.  8.  27.  8. 
39.  6.  51.18. 
43.  9.  22. 66. 
70.  5.  62.18.  6 


98 


Abigail  Jennings, 
Stephen  Jennings, 
Jeremiah  Jennings,  - 
Lathrop  Lewis,     - 
Sturges  Lewis, 
Jonathan  Lewis,  - 
Hezekiah  Nicholls,  - 
Thos.  T.  Nicholls, 
Eleazer  Osborn,  Jr., 
Marble  Osborn,  - 
Daniel  Osborn, 
John  Parsons, 
Nathaniel  Parsons, 
John  Parritt, 
Samuel  Penfield, 
John  Robertson, 
Samuel  Rowland, 
Andrew  Rowland, 
Samuel  Squier, 
John  Smedley, 
Seth  Sturges,   -         -         - 
Joseph  Squier,     - 
Thomas  Staples, 
Ebenezer  Sturges, 
John  Squier,  Jr., 
Judson  Sturges,   - 
Joseph  Sturges  (children), 
Jonathan  Sturges, 
Samuel  Squier, 
Hezekiah  Sturges, 
Samuel  Sturges, 
Samuel  Smedley, 
Joseph  Smith, 
Eliphalet  Thorp, 
Ansel  Truby,   - 
Isaac  Tucker, 
Stephen  Thorp, 
John  Turney, 
Eben  Wakeman, 


List,  1781.  List,  1782. 

-  £^-  ^2.14.  9 

76.  2.  96.06. 

-  40-  5-  56-10. 
40.10.  48.10. 

-  72.19  .6  73.  7.  6 
130.19.  6  132.12.  6 

54.19.  6  60.11. 

20.15.  19.  3.  6 

-  12.  5 

30.  6.  6.  20.  2.  2 
96.  5.  9.  74.  o.  6 

18.  21. 

19.  5  J-  5 
24.  23. 

52.  8.  3.  54.  8.  3 

26.  39. 

35.   13.  59.16.  3 

48.  3.  91.16.   7 

18.  21. 

87.12  87.12. 

44-   7-  6  51.10.  6 

2SI4-  35-   I- 

74.16.  66.  4. 
24.16. 

37.  5.  6  38.17 

dZ.    I.  71.   2 

31.  16.6  35.13.  6 
99.  2.  r37.18.11 
85.   4.6  85.18.6 

157.  4.  142.   5. 

-  13.  4.  12.  6. 
13.19.  13.19. 
40.14.6  40.  5.  6 

30.  4.  31.14. 

19.10.  28.  o.    I 

18. 

30.  4.  3I-I4- 

61.   1.6  58.  2.  6 

99.18.  67.  8.  6 


99 


List,  1 78 1. 

List,  178; 

2. 

Andrew  Wakeman, 

^124  17. 

^116.    4. 

6 

Jabez  Thorp, 

-      52-I3-6 

60.  8. 

6 

Isaac  Turney, 

34.  8. 

37-  8. 

Reuben  Burr, 

27.  2, 

31-  3- 

9 

Wakeman   Burrittt 

85.11. 

0 

John  Williams,  Jr., 

I.  4. 

27-  5- 

Wright  White,     - 

4- 

31- 

John   Mason, 

25.10. 

28.  8. 

Thos.  H.  Wakeman,    - 

- 

6.17. 

6 

GREEN'S 

FARMS. 

Sarah  Andrews,  - 

£    «-io- 

£     7-14- 

Abraham  Andrews, 

72.  0.   6 

69.  0. 

3 

George  Patterson 

21. 

21. 

Walter  Carson, 

9- 

13.18. 

I 

Nathan  Godfrey, 

62.  8.6 

9315- 

3 

Ebenezer  Jessup,     - 

-     141-  3- 

101.19. 

9 

Moss  Kent, 

161. 

105.   8. 

Eunice   Morehouse, 

-      95-  6.  6 

84. 

Eben  Morehouse, 

III    6.  6 

91.17. 

3 

Gruman  Morehouse, 

21.14. 

43- 

Samuel  Smith,     -         -         - 

21. 

27.   2. 

6 

Gideon  Morehouse, 

-      45-66. 

35-i6. 

6 

Jesup  Wakeman, 

32.  5-   9 

John  Morehouse,     - 

-      57-14- 

64.18. 

r  ^  oS«.T7 

6 

in 

year   1781.     The  sum  of  ^4,088.12   to  be   apportioned    to    the 
sufferers  of  said  town. 


FroTH  Rev.  Dr.  Osgood  : 

ECCLESIASTICAL    NOTES. 

There  are  good  materials  for  a  history  of  the 
Church  and  Clergy  of  Eairfield,  but  these  materials  are 
very  fragmentary,  and  they  have  never  been  brought 
together.  Chief  among  the  historical  discourses  are 
those  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Atwater,  on  Thanksgiving 
Day,  November  28,  1839,  ^^'^^  ^Y  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ran- 
kin, on  Thanksgiving  Day,  November  24,  1870,  and 
by  the  Rev.  N.  E.  Cornwall,  on  August  10,  1851.  The 
Rev.  B.  J.  Relyea,  on  the  26th  of  October,  1865, 
gave  a  valuable  discourse  upon  the  history  of  the 
Green's  Farm  Congregational  Church,  which  seceeded 
from  the  old  Fairfield  Parish  in  1715,  and  the  Rev. 
Henry  B.  Smith  delivered  an  elaborate  historical 
sermon  in  1876,  on  the  150th  anniversary  of  the 
Greenfield  Hill  Congregational  Church,  which  was 
founded  in   i  726. 

Dr.  Atwater  gives  a  careful  account  of  the  pastors 
of  the  old  Church  until  his  own  ministry,  who  had 
then  been  eight  in  number,  beginning  with  the  Rev. 
John  Jones,  the  minister  who  'brought  an  Oxford 
education  to  this  frontier  settlement,  and  who  had 
tried  to  find  a  home  in  Concord,  Mass.,  but  left  that 
place  for  Fairfield  with  a  considerable  part  of  his 
congregation,  on  account  of  "the  poverty  and  mean- 
ness of  Concord,  together  with  the  badness  and 
wetness  of  the  meadows."  His  successors  were  as 
follows,  after  his  death  in   1664  : 


I02 

Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman, 

Rev.  Joseph  Webb, 

Rev,  Noah  Hobart, 

Rev.  Andrew  Eliot, 

Rev.  Heman   Humphrey, 

Rev.  Dr.   Hewit, 

Rev.  Mr.   Hunter,    . 


1665-1692 
1692-1732 

1732-1773 
I  774-1805 

1807-1817 
1818-1827 
1828-1833 


Since  Dr.  Atwater's  removal  to  Princeton,  the  old 
parish  has  had  the  services  of  Dr.  Willis  Lord,  Rev. 
Alexander  McLean  and  Rev.  Dr.  Rankin,  whose 
coming  retirement  from  his  post  is  to  take  place  in 
October. 

The  Episcopal  Church  in  Fairfield  has  an  honor- 
able history  since  the  consecration  of  its  first  edifice, 
Nov.  10,  1725,  with  a  discourse  by  the  famous  Dr. 
Samuel  Johnson,  afterwards  President  of  King's 
College,  New  York  City.  In  1827,  the  Rev.  Henry 
Caner  was  appointed  missionary  to  Fairfield,  and 
remained  here  till  1747,  when  he  went  to  King's 
Chapel,  Boston,  where  he  was  rector  in  1776,  when, 
with  the  British  army,  he  left  his  post  for  Halifax,  at 
the  time  of  the  evacuation  of  Boston.  The  second 
Episcopal  Church  edifice  was  burned  in  1779,  as 
stated  by  Dr.  Rankin,  and  the  third  edifice  that  was 
built  on  Mill  Plain  in  1790,  stood  until  the  transfer 
of  the  services  to  the  new  Trinity  Church  edifice  at 
Southport,  where  regular  worship  was  begun  by  Rev. 
William  Shelton  in  1828.  St.  Paul's  Church,  now  in 
Fairfield,  began   as   a  distinct  parish   in   1854,  and  it 


163 

Is  not  the  successor,  except  in  its  Episcopal  order, 
of  the  old  Trinity  parish  of   1725. 

The  ministers  of  St.  Paul's  Church  have  been  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Leffingwell,  Stimson,  Hyde,  Mackie, 
and  Rev.  James  K.  Lombard,  the  present  rector. 

It  is  interesting-  to  remember,  that  the  Rev.  Philo 
Shelton  began  his  services  as  lay  reader  in  Trinity 
Church,  Fairfield,  in  1779,  and  had  been  rector  for 
forty  years  at  the  time  of  his  death,  February  27, 
1825,  aged  seventy-one.  He  was  ordained  by  Bishop 
Seabury,  at  Middletown,  August  3,  1785,  at  the  first 
ordination  ever  held  by  an  American  bishop.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  the  Rev.  William  Shelton, 
who  went  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  1829,  where 
he  Is  still  rector.  Thus  it  appears,  as  an  intelligent 
lady  remarked,  that  the  Episcopal  Church  in  America 
has  been  served  one  hundred  years  by  father  and  son 
from  the  honored  Shelton  family. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  there  was  close  connection 
in  early  times  between  our  Fairfield  Churches  and 
Boston  and  Cambridge  culture.  Several  Fairfield 
ministers  were  graduates  of  Cambridge  before  and 
after  Yale  Callege  came  into  being,  and  the  brilliant 
Dr.  Horace  Holley,  who  made  such  a  figure  as 
the  minister  of  Hollis  Street  Church,  Boston,  was 
for  three  years  the  eloquent  and  successful  pastor  of 
the  Greenfield  Hill  Parish,  from  which  he  went  to 
Boston  in  1809,  and  was  afterwards,  for  nine  years, 
till  1827,  President  of  Transylvania  University, 
Kentucky. 


104 

It  is  a  fact  worth  recording,  that  the  first  meeting 
of  the  old  Congregational  Parish,  the  Prime  Ancient 
Society  of  Fairfield,  distinct  from  town  meeting,  was 
held,  according  to  the  record,  on  December  19,  1727. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  St.  Thomas,  was 
consecrated  about  25  years  ago,  under  charge  of 
Rev.  Thomas  J.  Synnot,  of  Bridgeport,  and  it  has 
been  a  distinct  parish  about  three  years. 

THE  LAST  WORD. 

There  is  good  hope  of  the  awakening  of  public 
spirit  in  Fairfield  as  the  consequence  of  the  late 
Memorial  occasions.  The  celebration  of  1876  was 
followed  by  the  establishment  of  the  Fairfield  Mem- 
orial Library,  and  this  Commemoration  has  led  to 
the  formation  of  the  Fairfield  Village  Improvement 
Society,  for  the  health,  ornament  and  general  wel- 
fare of  the  charming  old  town. 


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